Maine International Trade Center receives highest export honor

The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the Maine International Trade Center its highest award for its contributions in expanding and promoting exports of U.S. products, the President’s "E" Award for Export Service.

MITC was one of 123 U.S. groups or companies that received the annual “E” awards, which were created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to recognize honorees’ contributions in reducing barriers to foreign markets and opening the door to more trade around the world.

"The Maine International Trade Center has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion. The ‘E’ Awards Committee was very impressed with the Maine International Trade Center's dedication to helping companies understand the intricacies of the export process," U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said in her congratulatory letter to MITC. "The Maine International Trade Center's achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs."

MITC was nominated for the award by Jeffrey Porter, director of the department's Export Assistance Center in Portland.

"MITC has played a crucial role in strengthening and growing our economy by providing export assistance programs and services to Maine's business community," Porter said in a statement. "They should be proud of this extraordinary achievement."

With Maine International Trade Center, even small companies can export successfully