Official Site of The State of New Jersey

World Trade Month: A Celebration of Global Exchange and Its Impact on the Local Economy

In 1938, the United States designated May as World Trade Month to celebrate and appreciate the positive economic impact that global trade has on the country. Before it was World Trade Month, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce first celebrated World Trade Week in 1927. World Trade Week did not become a national observance until 1935, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed it as a holiday in celebration of the passage of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934. 

During last year’s World Trade Month, the Office of Export Promotion (OEP) received its second President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service in recognition of OEP’s ongoing contributions to increasing U.S. exports. To learn more about the history and importance of World Trade Month, click here. To learn more about the President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service, click here.

South Jersey Export Webinar Series Starts with Cape May County on Friday, May 9

The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) is proud to announce the launch of the “South Jersey Export Webinar Series.” The webinar series, a collaborative effort with the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, local chambers of commerce, economic development offices, and business organizations, will start on May 9, 2025 with Cape May County. In each webinar, NJBAC and its Office of Export Promotion (OEP) will share information with attendees about the benefits of exporting, and how to get started with existing local resources. 

Both product-based and service-based businesses are invited to learn how to conduct international market research, start an export plan, and assess their company’s export readiness. While the webinar is intended for new-to-export firms, existing exporters are welcome to join and learn about actionable resources to identify additional global markets. To register for an upcoming webinar, click here.

New Jersey International Trade Awards to Recognize Excellence Among Leading New Jersey Exporters

The NJBAC is a proud sponsor of the upcoming New Jersey International Trade Awards (NJITA), which will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, New Jersey. The NJITA is a program of the New Jersey District Export Council (NJDEC). In addition to recognizing leading Garden State exporters, the event will provide ample networking opportunities, an insightful panel discussion, a welcome address from NJBAC Executive Director Melanie Willoughby, and a fireside chat with Acrow CEO William Killeen. To learn more about the NJDEC, click here. For more event details and registration for the NJITA, click here.

Last Call for Applications to the NJ Pavilion at the 2025 Fancy Food Show

Food and beverage businesses wishing to join the 2025 NJ State Pavilion are still able to apply, with limited spaces remaining. All businesses seeking to participate must meet the criteria designated by the OEP Team listed below. Applicants will be evaluated on a first come, first served competitive basis. 

Criteria for the 2025 New Jersey State Pavilion:

1.       New to Exporting

2.       Established in Domestic Sales

3.       Registered Business in New Jersey

4.       In Business for at Least One (1) Year

5.       Small Business (as defined by the SBA)

6.       Located in New Jersey

7.       In Good Standing with NJ State Division of Taxation

8.       Export Ready

9.       Product Must Contain a Minimum of 51% U.S. Content

10.   Available June 27 – July 1, 2025

 For further information and for an application, please contact Marielle Wolf, NJ Pavilion Manager at marielle.wolf@sos.nj.gov. 

Have an Export-Related Need? NJBAC Office of Export Promotion Can Help.

The Office of Export Promotion works with New Jersey’s small and mid-sized companies interested in expanding sales and their customer base for their products and services through export. Companies interested in global business activity can tap into a number of resources on business export planning available through the NJBAC Export Promotion unit.

Have a Business Need? NJBAC Can Help.

The NJBAC offers no-cost technical assistance, training, and problem-solving. From site selection and incentive identification to one-off questions, the NJBAC is here to support all NJ businesses. In addition to the Office of Export Promotion, NJBAC is home to the Office of Small Business Advocacy, Office of Business Advocacy, and the Office of Planning Advocacy. The NJBAC offers free online chat and telephone (800-537-7397) assistance in English and Spanish to any New Jersey business. The NJBAC Small Business Manual, a one-stop tool for many business concerns, is available online. A Spanish version of the manual is also available for download. A print copy in both versions is available on request.