Those products are built by a highly skilled work force, another factor in exporting's growth. Goodwin says there are plenty of examples of companies that have moved some manufacturing lines to Mexico, but ''they found out the hard way that certain products cannot be made to the same tolerance there as they can here.'' Advances in telecommunications and the advent of the Internet age have also played a role. Even the smallest company can be aware of and competitively bid on projects half a world way through fax machines and e-mail, Goodwin says. Finally, networking has its part. Goodwin says his International Business Council is viewed as a model for promoting exports as a key to economic success.
International business is here.
The IBC isn't the only strong international business organization here. Monroe County is home to the only privately operated foreign trade zone in the United States. Exports from the zone are exempt from U.S. Customs duties and excise taxes. Imports to the zone have duties deferred to a later time. International trade is big regionally as well.