Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced a new state export initiative designed to open additional export opportunities for Washington businesses and create jobs. 

The initiative complements the National Export Initiative, a federal plan to double the nation’s exports by 2015, and commits Washington state to working with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Over the next five years, Gregoire expects the state export initiative to increase the number of Washington state companies exporting by 30 percent and help 5,000 Washington businesses achieve $600 million in new export sales.

Gregoire announced the state export initiative at the Port of Seattle Headquarters with Department of Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse and Commerce Director Rogers Weed.

“We already export a broad diversity of Washington-grown food products to consumers around the world,” said Newhouse. “The Governor is offering our industry an opportunity to increase these exports, expand our industry and increase jobs, especially in rural communities, with products from apples to wine and oysters to wheat. Working with our resourceful, innovative farmers, ranchers and food processors, we can meet this challenge.”

With 8,000 Washington companies currently exporting, the state is the largest U.S. exporter on a per capita basis. Approximately 4 percent of Washington companies export, compared to a national average of 1 percent. One in three jobs in Washington state are tied to trade, either directly or indirectly.

For companies seeking export assistance, Washington’s Department of Commerce has set up a dedicated email account to answer questions.

The department can be contacted at trade@commerce.wa.gov.