Kentucky trade exports shot up 25 percent from 2022 to last year. That’s according to Omar Ayyash, president and CEO of the World Trade Center, which is headquartered in Lexington. He said there are multiple reasons for the increase from $32 billion to $40 billion.
“We have a very strong manufacturing base. There's several Kentucky companies that are really leading the global market space, whether it's automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals. Our location, again, an amazing strategic location with UPS in Louisville, DHL in Northern Kentucky, and a few other opportunities that come with that.”
Ayyash also credited State Trade Expansion Program grants from the Small Business Development Center, a skilled workforce and the World Trade Center’s efforts for the exports increase.
“We led a trade mission to Dubai to go to the largest technology trade show in the world again, just a couple of days ago, I just returned from another trade mission with five Kentucky companies that attended GITEX.”
GITEX is the annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. Ayyash said the World Trade Center also offers a three-day international trade certification program that’s certified more than 400 people around the state. WEKU requested an interview with the state Cabinet for Economic Development, but no one was made available.
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