Business leaders get fast track from Mexico trek

Courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Commerce

Business leaders and government officials from across West Virginia traveled to Mexico last week on a trade mission. Those traveling included, from left, Brad Caserta of Steel of West Virginia; Akiko Praylow and Andrea Celorio of Nippon Tungsten; Miguel Vazquez with the U.S Commercial Service; and Enybe Diaz with the West Virginia Development Office.

---

 

herald-dispatch.com

Jul. 26, 2014 @ 11:18 PM

BEN FIELDS

HUNTINGTON — From his desk, Tim Duke can accomplish a lot.

As president of Steel of West Virginia in Huntington, Duke has plenty of resources for doing business.

But he said he never could have set up what the West Virginia Development Office International Division was able to deliver when one of his sales representatives, Brad Caserta, traveled with the agency, along with several other business leaders from across the state, to Mexico on a trade mission last week.

“It was a marvel what they did,” Duke said. “I could have never lined it up like that even with all the resources I have.”

“They got us in and got us in touch with the actual decision-makers at these companies,” Caserta said. “We started in Mexico City and went from there. There were translators, drivers, folks to take care of us in each city.”

About 9 percent of Steel of West Virginia’s business is made up of international exports. The company already does some business with Mexican companies, but the trip was an opportunity for a series of meetings to try and expand that reach.

“It was important to have the true decision-makers at the table,” Duke said. “Not ‘Who are you? Steel of where?’ These are people who are making the call and looking at where they might source steel.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” Caserta said. “I got a lot of great leads, and, if nothing else, a great look at how the industry operates in Mexico.”

Now back in Huntington, Caserta is anticipating what comes next, as is Duke.

“That’s the great thing about this, the contacts are made and the work has been done,” Duke said. “Now, the ultimate measure of success will be did we get an order. We got a lot of leads, and now the work is up to us.”

Other businesses from Cabell County that participated in the program included Nippon Tungsten from Barboursville and Special Metals in Huntington.

Representatives from five other companies across the state made the trip, along with former Marshall University professor Clark Egnor, who went as a representative of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Comission.

U.S. exports to Mexico were estimated at $222.6 billion in 2013, the country’s second largest export market. Mexico is also the ninth largest export destination for products made in West Virginia.