Events:

2008 MITA Trade Mission
2008 China Trade Mission

The Midlands International Trade Association is coordinating the trade mission to Columbia’s sister city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria and to Istanbul, Turkey on May 9-17, 2008. The deadline for participation is March 31.

Early enrollment is encouraged for both matchmaking success and for desired transportation arrangements.

The mission is open to companies across the state. The participation fee is $1,600, which includes coordination of the mission activities and for qualified South Carolina manufacturers, the U.S. Commercial Service’s Gold Key service in Istanbul. The Gold Key matchmaking service underwritten by ECI includes a market intelligence report preceding the mission.

Plans call for the mission members to leave on Friday, May 9 and arrive in Bulgaria on Saturday, May 10. The mission coincides with the Plovdiv Fair, which includes major exhibitions on consumer goods and technologies, boats and sports; household appliances, hotel and restaurant equipment; perfumes and cosmetics; and textile, clothing and leather goods.

Other business appointments in Plovdiv will be arranged through the Plovdiv regional development agency.

The mission will move to Istanbul midweek. MITA will be coordinating Gold Keys with the commercial service in Istanbul and will be arranging other meetings with Turkish business and cultural groups. The scheduled return to South Carolina is Saturday, May 17.

Mission members are responsible for their own transportation costs, including the ground coach travel from Sofia to Plovdiv and from Plovdiv to Istanbul that will be arranged by MITA; hotels, meals and incidentals.

For more information, visit the MITA website, or contact Fred Monk at 803-255-2623 or by email at fmonk@findnewmarkets.com