Governor Hassan to Depart on Trade Mission to Turkey with Representatives of Seven New Hampshire Companies

Press Release

In order to help connect New Hampshire businesses with new opportunities in Turkey's market that will spur economic development and create jobs, Governor Maggie Hassan, Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) Commissioner Jeffrey Rose and representatives of seven New Hampshire companies will depart Friday night on a trade mission to Turkey.

Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Turkey is a regional commercial hub and New Hampshire's 12th-largest trading partner, and with a new direct flight between Boston and Istanbul, there are increasing opportunities for economic growth, especially in areas such as aerospace and defense, health and medical technologies, education and construction machinery.

Organized in partnership with the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) and the Turkish Cultural Center in Manchester, the trade mission features a series of meetings for members of the delegation with various Turkish companies and business groups in Istanbul and Ankara. Working with TUSKON, the state's Office of International Commerce has also set up a series of individual matchmaking meetings with potential partners and customers for the New Hampshire businesses participating in the trade mission.

The trade mission builds on the progress that helped make New Hampshire the fastest-growing state for exports in 2013 by helping businesses market and sell their products to key business and government decision makers in Turkey. Last year, New Hampshire businesses sent more than $79 million in goods and services to Turkey.

"Promoting international trade is a crucial way that we will boost our economy and continue to build a stronger middle class and a brighter economic future for the Granite State," said Governor Hassan. "New Hampshire trade missions have been enormously beneficial to our state's businesses and economy, and I'm very excited to help connect our businesses with new opportunities for growth, especially in sectors such as aerospace and defense, where our state is an emerging leader."

"I can't overstate how valuable this trade mission is for Comptus," said Andrew White, President of Comptus. "By working closely with the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service, Comptus has accessed new markets and realized significant growth in exports, and having the Governor lead our delegation will get us in the room with key decision-makers that will help us build on our success." Comptus, based in Thornton, is a leading manufacturer of environmental sensors, transmitters and controls.

DRED Commissioner Rose said, "I am excited to be working with Governor Hassan in leading a diverse set of New Hampshire businesses to Turkey. Opening doors to strategic markets around the world is an important role the state can provide to our small businesses. We have an aggressive schedule that will provide senior-level meetings to develop partnerships for economic growth for New Hampshire's economy."

New Hampshire businesses Comptus, Conductive Compounds, Demers & Blaisdell, Hinckley Allen, MAE Consulting Group, Rokon and Ulysses Advisory Group will join Governor Hassan on the trade mission.

"The value of the trade mission for my business is multifaceted," said Janet Kwiatkowski, President of MAE Consulting Group. "It will allow MAE Consulting Group to grow internationally, represent New Hampshire abroad, develop and attract New Hampshire talent, and assist other New Hampshire companies that we work with in international expansion through product approvals in target markets such as Turkey." Located in Deerfield, MAE Consulting Group assists companies seeking to gain market approval for medical devices in both domestic and international markets.

"We are excited to have this opportunity to introduce our company and products in the Turkish market," Bella Okyar, Financial Controller at Conductive Compounds, said. "Our goal is to increase our international sales and continue to grow, and we believe this trip will help us to reach that goal." Hudon's Conductive Compounds is a high-tech manufacturer for the global electronics assembly market.

The bipartisan budget that Governor Hassan signed last year increased international trade assistance and restored funding for trade missions to help businesses market and sell their products around the globe.

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