With DEFEA 2025 just around the corner, Business Partners reached out to Andy Karellas, Executive Director of the State International Development Organizations (SIDO), to find out about SIDO’s work as the premiere and only US organization dedicated to supporting US Governors’ international trade agencies.
Can you tell us a little about SIDO’s mission and how SIDO works to fulfil this?
SIDO’s primary mission is to support the Governors’ respective international trade offices and their ability to promote exports and attract investment. We do this by providing tools, resources, and training, sharing best practices among members, and organizing pavilions at international trade shows such as DEFEA. Additionally, SIDO convenes two conferences each year, a Washington Leadership Forum and a Best Practices & Training Conference, designed to extend members’ reach and further identify global opportunities for the states and their constituents. All of SIDO’s initiatives are grounded in advancing global trade and investment.
What are some of the key challenges SIDO helps its members navigate?
Just like businesses, our state (and territory) trade offices are navigating the rapid changes in trade policy and working to provide guidance for their respective exporters and state leaders. We continue to share best practices and resources and monitor changes from the federal government, as well as from foreign governments and global markets. We all have unique relationships with partners and strategic allies around the world. Whereas much of the trade policy formulation in the US is entrusted to the federal government, states play a key role in building not only national but also subnational relationships, internationally, that matter most in continuing to drive bilateral trade and investment.
How does SIDO’s trade show initiative, SIDO SME Zone Pavilions, advance trade opportunities for US businesses?
Our SIDO SME Zone Pavilions provide a unique opportunity and platform for states to participate in top trade events and shows around the world. Participation requires minimal resources, as SIDO organizes the pavilions and provides a turnkey package for their businesses, coordinating everything from booth design, exhibitor coordination, and B2B meetings to logistics and support, and even staffing the pavilions, ensuring all goes as planned. This allows states to leverage their marketing budgets by participating in shows they’d otherwise be unable to participate in. This is especially important for smaller states and territories with limited resources that may not participate in many trade shows on an annual basis. SIDO’s turnkey pavilion option is very popular and typically yields a greater than average return on investment for the participating states and companies.
How do SIDO’s professional development and new-to-export (NTE) trainings empower members?
Professional development is a fundamental necessity in today’s globally connected world. Our Level 1 and Level 2 Trade Specialist training has been extremely valuable for both state member staff new to their roles and more experienced practitioners looking to keep their trade skills up-to-date. Trade specialist training is very niche and not typically easily accommodated, so SIDO’s training is a core service for our members.
Counseling new companies through the export process can be time consuming and many of our members don’t have the resources to properly assess and assist such firms. SIDO’s NTE program provides hands-on and practical training, ensuring participating companies develop an export plan and strategy and are ready to begin their exporting journey. Participants work with Export Coaches who support them through the training and help them identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities by codifying them within their plan to compete in the global marketplace.