Four Arkansas-based companies were presented awards for excellence in global trade by Gov. Mike Beebe at a noon luncheon.
The awards were given based on growth in export sales over the past three years. It is the second year for the recognition event, which is co-sponsored by the Arkansas District Export Council, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, U. S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Center Arkansas, and the Arkansas World Trade Center.
This year’s winners are:
- Pernod Ricard USA of Fort Smith – Pernod Ricard USA is a premium spirits and wine company in the United States, and the largest subsidiary of their France – based parent company.
- Allen Engineering of Paragould – Allen Engineering Corp. has been an Arkansas-based company for 47 years and manufactures concrete equipment.
- Keo Fish Farm, Inc. of Keo – Keo Fish Farm is the largest producer of hybrid striped bass fingerlings in the world and one of the largest sterile triploid grass carp hatcheries in the U.S.
- Power Technology of Alexander – Power Technology Inc. designs and manufactures high-quality laser products for analytical, biomedical, industrial, and military applications.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Arkansas’ export shipments of merchandise in 2010 totaled more than $5.1 billion – a 33 percent increase from 2005 totals. The state’s largest trade partners in 2010 were Canada ($1.3 billion), Mexico ($544 million), Japan ($342 million) and China ($336 million).
