Brian: Joining me now is the director of global business services for the
Oklahoma department of commerce, Barry Clark.
So, Barry, how big is the export market
out there for the oil and gas industry?
Barry Clark: It's a huge market, Brian, and on that's continually growing
here in Oklahoma.
In the last five years, since 2002, Oklahoma exports are up, right at
80 percent which makes us about the 9th largest and fastest growing exporting
state in the nation.
Brian: So, where are our top export markets right now?
Which countries are doing the most business with Oklahoma?
Clark: Well, our top markets are Canada, Mexico, Russia, United
Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
Brian: What about developing markets;
where are we looking for the future?
Clark: Well, part of the developing markets, one that comes to mind is
Russia; and it's interesting to note that Russia, about 75 percent
of all the pumps and valves, the liquid pumps and valves that go into
Russia, are from Oklahoma.
So, this shows the phenomenal opportunity that Oklahoma companies
have to be competitive and to send their products around the world.
Brian: So, where does the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
come in, in this picture?
How do you help these companies?
Clark: Well, we're continually working with a variety of companies here
in Oklahoma from our office in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and then
from our four international trade offices that we have in
China, Mexico, Vietnam, and in Israel.
And, so each of these are in, as no coincidence, in some of those top regions
where our oil and gas exporters are sending their product to.
And so, we provide market entry strategies, partner and agent distributor
searches, to help them locate the people in those markets that can sell
their products, and then also, on trade mission and trade show assistance
where they come into a market and have an oil and
gas show in Mexico, like at Pemex.
Brian: And the culture has to be different in all these countries, so, how
do you help get these companies that get their foot in the door, and
understand their culture and their way of doing business?
Clark: Well, we provide several services, and one is, at the beginning, we
help them understand the global conversation.
So if it's Mexico, we help them understand the cultural issues that are
in Mexico, and how partners want to be contacted, and how to
communicate with them, and provide translation services, and all kinds of
services to help these companies enter those markets.
Brian: What affect does the U S dollar have on exports right now?
Clark: Currently, the falling dollar against the Canadian dollar, the Euro
dollar, the Euro, has been tremendous for our Oklahoma companies.
It's the best that it's been in years, and so our
companies, the exports are strong.
They've grown for the last six years, and we're on track to have another
strong year this year.
Brian: But, essentially, these companies just need to look inside themselves
and find out how to best market their products.
Clark: That's right, and they need to continually be a part of the global
conversation and use our offices to help introduce them, and let us help with
market research, and to see where their products are going to be most
competitive, and where we have the resources to help
them try to sell those products.
Brian: Great, thank you, Barry.
Clark: Thank you, Brian.