Help for local firms that want to sell overseas at Monday event at Farmingdale State College

Long Island businesses that want to begin selling their goods and services overseas or increase their export sales are the target audience for a half-day event on Monday at Farmingdale State College.

The Global NY Export Promotion Tour will feature officials from Empire State Development, the state’s primary business-aid agency, who help companies on four continents.

There will be presentations on selling to Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, China, Europe, India, Israel and Mexico. After each presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to meet one-on-one with a trade expert.

ESD’s Global NY division “can help [businesses] unlock the world of economic opportunity that exists beyond our borders,” said Hope Knight, the agency’s president and CEO. The Farmingdale State event “will help companies understand how to export their products from the Empire State to the world,” she said.

The free event is one of seven that will take place across the state this month. The local session, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will take place in the college’s Campus Center ballroom.

To register go to esd.ny.gov/global-ny-trade-promotion-tour.

Manufacturers, distributors and trading companies in Nassau and Suffolk counties sell more than $10 billion in goods per year to foreign buyers, according to Census data.

Many of the exported products fall into one of three categories: medical devices, dental supplies, musical instruments and miscellaneous goods; electronic and computer parts; and drugs and vitamins. Canada and Hong Kong are among the top export destinations. The latter serves as a gateway to many Asian nations, including China, home to the world’s largest population, the data show.

The two employment sectors that are most affected by export activity — manufacturing and transportation/warehousing — employed 109,200 people on Long Island in April, according to the state Department of Labor.

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.