Logistics and International Trade Cluster

This cluster includes the largest number of specific industry components, however, the number of industry sectors is not that large. The primary components of this cluster include air, sea, and freight transportation and the related operations, shipping, and handling, product storage, and support services related to financing. This cluster exceeds the average U.S. employment concentration ratio by 30 percent, and is spread throughout the region, with heavy concentrations within the region's designated manufacturing/industrial centers.

2009 Action Items

Action Initiative	Action Initiative Area	Organization	Target Completion
Identify a clear priority for foreign direct investment recruitment and collaborate with the four economic development councils to pursue that target	Logistics and International Trade	Prosperity Partnership / Trade Development Alliance / enterpriseSeattle / Snohomish County EDC / EDB for Tacoma-Pierce County / Kitsap EDA	March 2009
Create an International Trade Information Toolkit for local elected officials, and organize workshops to educate them on the role and importance of trade to our region	Logistics and International Trade	Trade Development Alliance / Prosperity Partnership	June 2009

What’s New: World Bank Private Sector Liaison Office
The World Bank Group has selected the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle to host a Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO) for the region. As part of the PSLO Network, the Trade Alliance will work with the World Bank to increase the awareness and participation of companies in our region regarding World Bank Group efforts in developing countries. They will also provide links to procurement opportunities, key contacts at the World Bank, a list of other PSLOs and how to seek opportunities with the World Bank Group. For more information, visit www.seattletradealliance.com/resources/pslofront.php.

Cluster Strategy Development Background
In 2005, to target its work in supporting the logistics and international trade cluster, the Prosperity Partnership formed a Logistics and International Trade Cluster Strategy Development Working Group tasked with identifying specific action initiatives to be implemented by 2010. A special thanks goes to the co-chairs of that working group:

M.R. Dinsmore, CEO Port of Seattle (retired March 2007) www.portseattle.org Tim Farrell, Executive Director Port of Tacoma www.portoftacoma.com

Bill Stafford, President Trade Development Alliance www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tda Andreas Udbye, Executive Director World Trade Center Tacoma (retired June 2007) www.wtcta.org

The full Logistics and International Trade industry cluster strategy can be found starting on page 49 of the Prosperity Partnership's Regional Economic Strategy.

Contact
For more information, contact Bill McSherry, bmcsherry@psrc.org, 206-971-3269