NEW ARIZONA

'eHarmony for businesses' boosts border trade

Editorial board
The Republic | azcentral.com
  • MAG launches a powerful new tool to link Arizona businesses with partners in Mexico and Canada
  • BIEN is a recognition of our state's potential to expand trade and build international business relationships
  • A local business may not see the potential of its product%2C service or location for international commerce%2C but a CEO in Mexico or Canada might.

A new website - what some are calling “eHarmony for businesses” - helps Arizona businesses find trading partners in Mexico and Canada.

Arizona's awakening to its potential as an international player gets a boost today. It's all about conduits and connections.

The official launch of what's been called "eHarmony for businesses" provides the conduit: a website where Arizona businesses can find partners in Mexico and Canada or be found by international companies looking for what they have to offer.

BIEN — Building an International Economic Network — was created as a public service by the Maricopa Association of Governments. MAG Executive Director Dennis Smith made the eHarmony analogy. He says the website lets businesses use technology to "fish" for partners across borders without a middleman.

The effort includes partners from across the state, such as the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and local chambers, as well as the Canada Arizona Business Council and the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

MAG built the conduit. But making the connections is up to businesses, which can post a profile for free and search for partners based on type of product, name or location. They can conduct that search in English, Spanish or French.

More than 450 companies signed on to connectbien.com during a soft launch earlier this year. Success depends on growing that number so the website becomes a matchmaker with a long list of potential partners.

Businesses have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up.

After all, Company A may not see the potential of its product, service or location for international commerce, but a CEO in Mexico or Canada might.

These are Arizona's two biggest international trading partners, so this idea can quickly expand an existing network of connections. Companies can use the website to contact each other directly and explore possibilities for partnerships, expanded supply chains or simply to discuss best practices and experiences.

MAG, which has been working on BIEN for more than a year, will launch it today with a press conference at the Phoenix location of DIRTT Environmental Solutions, a Canada-based business listed in the database.

This isn't only about fostering international trade: Companies may find links to other Arizona businesses.

But this is clearly a recognition of our state's great potential to expand trade and build international business relationships. It's about seeing Arizona's geography as an asset.

As a border state that has grappled with some of the nation's worst border problems, Arizona became known for controversial and misguided responses to the federal government's failure to enact immigration reform. Our state lost valuable time while other states — notably Texas — were expanding trade relations with Mexico.

Arizona's attitude is changing, and opportunities are opening.

The $250 million expansion made the Mariposa Port of Entry a state-of-the art chance to expand trade. Our congressional delegation shows a commitment to secure proper staffing for the port. The federal investment that bought a Hoover Dam bypass gives Arizona an opportunity to become a major trade corridor with a new Interstate 11.

The BIEN project is a high-tech addition. It moves Arizona closer to seizing its potential as an international player.