Wine exports symposium set

A live market briefing from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Services in Hong Kong is the centerpiece of the Wine Exports Symposium, set for Feb. 23 in Atascadero.

Hosted by the Kern Community College District of Bakersfield and Cuesta College in conjunction with their Business & Entrepreneurship Centers, the Wine Exports Symposium is designed to stimulate commerce and increase California wine industry exports.

Presenters and sponsors include the U. S. Department of Commerce, Export-Import Bank of the United States, USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, Embassy Wine Distributors, JIB International Freight-Forwarding, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, and Galaxy Theatres.

Terri Hicks, director of the Business & Entrepreneurship Center at KCCD, says the symposium will provide a comprehensive seminar covering business support services, banking and finance, logistics, and features a live market update from Hong Kong.

“We are leveraging resources from numerous private and government agencies to bring expert know-how on exporting wine products to international markets, in particular, to China,” she says.

“The Wine Exports Symposium is designed to provide companies new resources and strategies to assist with their global growth expansion.”

As a follow-up to the symposium, wineries interested in exporting their products will be invited to a virtual wine matchmaking event. The BEC will provide assistance in exporting wine samples to international buyers participating in the virtual wine matchmaking.

Attendees will have the opportunity to negotiate the sale of their wines to international buyers.

The Business & Entrepreneurship Center is a network of community college professionals working in strategic partnerships with businesses, industry and community organizations to identify and meet California’s workforce and economic development needs.