Looking to Export Colorado Cleantech Products? Check Out CO-EXist

If you're looking to export Colorado cleantech products to Mexico or China, and you haven't heard about CO-EXist, you're missing out on a great program! The Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) administers the "CO-EXist” program. CO-EXist stands for the Colorado Export of Innovative and Sustainable Technologies and has been in place since January of 2010 and will run through December of 2013. The purpose of CO-EXist is to promote Colorado’s cleantech products and services into the Chinese and Mexican markets and facilitate an increase in export sales.

There are a number of components to this program including:

• bringing in buyer’s delegations from China and Mexico to introduce them to Colorado providers of goods and services that they are looking to purchase;
• participating in key industry trade shows in both countries and taking a Colorado delegation with us to display their technologies and have one-on-one meetings;
• a technical assistance fund which helps offset legal fees, contract or technical types of translations, and country specific labeling/packaging/shipping requirements among others, and;
• a Client Development Program which enables qualified Colorado cleantech companies to meet face-to-face with potential Mexican or Chinese buyers.

So what has CO-EXist accomplished to date? "So far, Colorado has hosted 3 foreign buyer delegations and introduced them to more than 40 Colorado cleantech manufacturers and service providers. Companies from across the state have participated with us at the 2010 Green Expo in Mexico City and at the 2011 CIEPEC trade show in Beijing, China. Attending companies have generated at least 3 significant sales and we look forward to many more," noted Stephanie Garnica, Director, Trade & Investment for the Americas at OEDIT. "In addition, the CO-EXist program has provided funding to a number of qualified Colorado cleantech companies through the Client Development Program and Technical Assistance Fund."

The CO-EXist program is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and is a unique way to boost exports and promote Colorado as a cleantech leader to the key markets of China and Mexico. "We look forward to working with more Colorado cleantech companies and enabling them to sell into these exciting and opportunity-rich countries!" said Garnica.

Intrigued? Click CO-EXist Program Overview for more information.