SHAHEEN: EXPORT REFORMS WILL HELP CREATE JOBS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
(Manchester, NH)-U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today hosted the Granite State Export Forum in Nashua to help connect small- and medium-sized businesses from across the state with resources to help them sell their products overseas, increase their bottom line, and create jobs in New Hampshire. The forum focused on recent reforms to America's export control system that will help New Hampshire businesses access overseas markets. In addition to Shaheen, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and export controls specialist Daniel Poneman was a featured speaker at the event, which was co-hosted by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center.
"Exporting New Hampshire products and services to international markets will help the state's economy grow during these difficult times. Most importantly, increasing sales will help companies create jobs here in New Hampshire," said Shaheen. "New Hampshire has seen a surge in exports this year, but in order for that growth to continue, we need to make sure that companies don't have to fight unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. We need a common-sense 21st Century export control system that keeps Americans safe and helps our businesses remain competitive in our 21st Century economy."
"Our export control reform effort is intended to bring common sense to an overly complicated system. By making our system more transparent, predictable and timely, we are better equipped to protect our national security," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. "It also makes our companies more competitive, which fuels American innovation to support our future national security needs. Senator Shaheen is a leader on this issue and by working together with business leaders, we can make our country safer, more secure and more prosperous."
Through August of this year, exports from New Hampshire were up nearly 40 percent compared to 2009 - the fifth largest increase of any state in the nation - and the state will likely be close to an all time record in total export sales in 2010. Continuing this trend, however, will depend on opening new markets and creating new opportunities for New Hampshire companies.
Defense trade and "dual-use" products that can have both commercial and military applications represent an area of tremendous potential for continued export growth. New Hampshire has a strong reputation for the quality of defense-related manufacturing. However, the current defense trade control system, designed for a Cold War environment, is not conducive to exploring new markets. Congress and the Obama Administration have begun the process of reforming this outdated system and creating a common sense approach to export controls. In the spring, Shaheen wrote a letter to the Administration laying out some of the export control challenges New Hampshire businesses face, including processing delays, unclear regulatory jurisdiction, and confusing paperwork requirements. Also this spring, Shaheen hosted the first Granite State Export Forum at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.
Shaheen was the first New Hampshire Governor to lead a trade mission overseas. The four trade missions she led during her six years as Governor resulted in $500 million in projected sales for New Hampshire businesses. As Governor, Shaheen significantly increased the state's investment in the International Trade Resource Center, which offers New Hampshire companies one-stop shopping for a wide range of services to help them develop new markets for their products and services. New Hampshire trade officials report that export activity supports more than 40,000 jobs in New Hampshire.
