NOVEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

Chairman's Corner

Dear Fellow Exporters, Export Service Providers and Economic Development Partners,

Oklahoma businesses have a world of opportunity ahead—and OKDEC is here to help them seize it!

From growing global demand for aerospace and defense products to emerging international markets and major procurement opportunities tied to the 2032 Olympic Games, there is plenty happening in international trade. The key is staying informed, making connections, and being ready to act when opportunities arise.

That's exactly what the Oklahoma District Export Council is here to support. As we head into the final months of 2026, we're bringing you new opportunities to learn, connect, and strengthen your global business strategy. Here's what's coming up!

Mark Your Calendar!

November 5, 2026 | Brisbane 2032: Navigating the Olympic Procurement Pipeline – Learn about opportunities for U.S. companies to compete for procurement contracts supporting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
November 10, 2026 | NADEC Webinar: Export Controls & Defense Procurement: ITAR/EAR Basics for Small Companies – Get practical guidance on export compliance requirements for small companies. Register here. (12 PM Central)
December 3–8, 2026 | US-ASEAN Business Council Aerospace, Defense & Security Missions – Explore business opportunities and partnerships through missions to Indonesia and Vietnam.
April 29, 2027 | 44th Annual Oklahoma World Trade Conference – Join us at Innovation Hall in Oklahoma City for another outstanding program of global insights, valuable connections, and export opportunities. We're building on the success of this year's conference! Interested in sponsoring? Contact Vice Chair Eric Kunkel. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details!

Catch Up on the Mid-America Trade Summit!

Missed the Mid-America Trade Summit or want to revisit a presentation? Recordings are now available on YouTube. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear valuable insights and perspectives from international trade experts.

I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities, share them with your colleagues, and help us reach more Oklahoma businesses that can benefit from international trade resources. Our mission is stronger when we work together to connect, educate, and support Oklahoma exporters.

Let's keep Oklahoma businesses moving forward in the global marketplace!

Sincerely,

Chuck Mills

Chuck Mills, Chair, Oklahoma District Export Council

cmills@millsmachine.com

ITAR/EAR COMPLIANCE WEBINAR

MID AMERICA TRADE SUMMIT

Mid-America Trade Summit Session Recordings Now Available

Our friends at the University of Missouri, organizers of the Mid-America Trade Summit, have shared recordings of all the sessions from the October 7, 2026 summit. Whether you attended or missed it, you can now watch the full lineup at your convenience:

Watch the 2026 Trade Summit recordings

The organizers also invite you to share the link with clients, colleagues, and members of the trade community. In their words, they would rather see the content shared to support learning than restrict access.

They’ve offered the recordings as a gift, in thanks for our support and partnership. We’re grateful to the Mid-America Trade Summit team for making this valuable content available to Oklahoma’s exporters.

ACCESS THE RECORDINGS

US COMMERCIAL SERVICE

Marcus Verner

Director, USDOC/ITA/Global Markets

Commercial Service - Oklahoma U.S. Export Assistance Center

405.608.5017 Tel

405.740.4243 Cell

Marcus.Verner@trade.gov

Marcus is always available to answer your export questions and help you refine your export strategy! Contact him today.

EMAIL MARCUS

Position Your Company for Brisbane 2032 Procurement Opportunities

The road to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane is creating significant opportunities for U.S. companies. With an estimated A$7.1 billion (US$4.9 billion) venue infrastructure pipeline, Australia is preparing for one of its largest-ever infrastructure and procurement programs.

As planning accelerates, the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) and the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee are seeking suppliers, service providers, and industry partners for Games-related projects.

Join the U.S. Commercial Service for an exclusive webinar to hear directly from Brisbane 2032 decision-makers about procurement priorities, project timelines, supplier registration requirements, and opportunities to partner and compete for contracts.

With Oklahoma City preparing to host Olympic events in 2028, this is also an exciting opportunity for Oklahoma businesses to build on that momentum and explore international opportunities connected to the Olympic movement.

Learn how your company can position itself to compete in this growing global marketplace!

Registration Fee: $35.00

Questions? Please contact Frances.Selema@trade.gov

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Join the US-ASEAN Business Council's Aerospace, Defense & Security Missions to Indonesia and Vietnam

This December, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) will lead two industry-focused business missions — one to Indonesia and one to Vietnam — designed to connect U.S. companies with key government stakeholders, distributors, industry partners, and procurement agencies. These programs will take place ahead of the Vietnam Defense Expo 2026 in Hanoi.

These programs offer a high-impact platform to:

Gain market insights directly from in-country experts
Meet senior government and industry decision-makers
Explore partnership and sales opportunities in rapidly growing sectors
Strengthen your company’s presence in two dynamic Southeast Asian markets
Advance cooperation in defense modernization and aerospace development

Proposed Target Engagements:

Indonesia (December 3-4, 2026)
U.S. Embassy Jakarta
Ministry of Defense (KEMHAN)
Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs
Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas)
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Transportation / DGCA
KKIP (Committee of Defense Industry Policy)
Danantara
Vietnam (December 7-8, 2026)
U.S. Embassy Hanoi
Ministry of National Defence (MND)
Office of the Ministry of National Defence / International Cooperation Department
MND General Department of Defence Industry (GDDI)
Ministry of Public Security
Viettel Aerospace Institute
Ministry of Planning and Investment
Ministry of Finance

Application process:

Express your interest in our intake form. Our team will review it, and if your U.S. company appears to be a good fit, we will reach out to schedule a virtual meeting to discuss next steps. Final selection will be at the discretion of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

Fee (includes up to two company representatives):

USABC Members - $5,000
Non-members
Large - $7,500
SME - $5,000

For more information or questions, please contact Fernando Bentz and Elmer Richardson.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY

LOOK AHEAD TO 2027

2,626 Oklahoma companies export $7.8 billion in goods around the world and support 26,166 jobs in the state and nation!

Our top three exports are transportation equipment, machinery and chemicals, primarily to the nations of Canada, Germany and Mexico.

The mission of the Oklahoma District Export Council is to promote and support international trade activities and awareness throughout the State of Oklahoma.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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