Interest in exporting locally-made products overseas appears to be growing. An organization that helps companies navigate international trade has been gaining new members.
World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara President Erin Cole says since late summer 22 companies have joined the organization.
"We have almost no competition. I mean, the companies need the assistance with international trade. And there's very few organizations left to provide that."
Cole says World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara's territory stretches from the Finger Lakes across Western New York and into southern Ontario. Global Economic Conditions for 2015 was the focus of the organization's monthly meeting yesterday.
About a hundred people attended.
"It certainly tells us, that again, there is a demand for that trade education in this area," Cole said.
"Companies are not afraid to share information with each other about best practices. If they're doing business in Brazil or Canada or China they're not afraid...or not unwilling to share that information with other companies."
Cole says statistics about local exporters are hard to come by because federal data is grouped by state.