The U.S. Department of Commerce selected the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) to participate in its esteemed International Buyer Program in recognition of its role as a global marketplace for baking equipment, ingredients and supplies.

The International Buyer Program, part of the U.S. Commercial Service, recruits qualified foreign buyers, sales representatives and business partners in more than 80 countries to participate in U.S. trade shows each year.

“Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States and, consequently, a growing number of American businesses, including suppliers to the baking industry, are looking to export with help from the U.S. Department of Commerce,” said Carol Rudman, senior trade specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce.

An International Trade Center, managed by the U.S. Commercial Service staff, will provide export counseling, opportunities to meet international delegations, and an ideal setting to explore and pursue export markets in which to sell products and services globally.

“The International Buyer Program will not only help us attract more foreign buyers in 2010, but will strengthen the awareness of our event and what it represents as the world’s resource for baking technology, equipment and supplies to a global audience,” said Mike Beaty, senior vice president of supply chain at Flowers Foods and IBIE vice chairman.

Rich Hoskins, Colborne Corp. president and IBIE chairman concurred. “At a time when it’s critical for companies to diversify their customer bases in order to buffer the challenging economic environment, this program is a prime example of how IBIE is more than a triennial tradeshow–it’s a catalyst to improve the performance of the industry as a whole,” he said.