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Richard Corson greases the wheels
for Michigan companies looking
for overseas markets.

JULIE EDGAR STAFF WRITER

Michael Traison, president of promoted to director of the Pontiac office af-
the America-Israel Chamber of ter working in the field for five years as a
Commerce of Michigan, estimates trade specialist.
"several dozen" companies in
Mr. Corson was in Israel once, 16 years
Michigan, some Israeli-owned, ago, but the experience still resonates. U.S.
have business interests in Israel. and Israeli flags criss-cross on a small wood-
Michigan is the third-largest in- en stand on a shelf in his office, and scenes
ternational exporter in the Unit- of Jerusalem are depicted on etched plates
ed States, and no less than 40 and prints. Big and small globes are scattered
Richard Corson:
percent of all goods leaving the around his office as decorations, paperweights
Internationalist. state originate in Oakland Coun-
and awards for his service.
ty, Mr. Corson said. Automobile
He and his wife Diane, a speech patholo-
parts and supplies, medical equipment and gist, live in Farmington Hills with their two
sraelis tend to cut to the chase when they industrial process controls tend to make up children, Madeline, 3, and Benjamin, nine
do business, whereas Arabs are likelier to the lion's share of the state's exports, Mr. Cor- months. They belong to Adat Shalom Syna-
observe a subtler code of social niceties be- son said, while aircraft parts and automated gogue.
fore getting down to brass tacks.
data machines comprise the majority of mer-
Mr. Corson serves as a member of the ad-
Those are generalities, of course, but they chandise leaving U.S. shores for Israel.
visory board of the America-Israel Chamber
can mean the difference between success and
The Export Assistance Center moved from of Commerce and the student task force of
failure for American companies seeking for- downtown Detroit last month to the Oakland the Arab and Jewish Friends of Metropoli-
tune abroad.
Pointe office center in Pontiac because "it tan Detroit.
As head of the U.S. Commerce Depart- made sense to be where
Many Arab business-
ment's Pontiac Export Assistance Center, most of Michigan's ex- Michigan companies are exporting people he has encountered
more to Israel every year
Richard Corson's job is to build bridges be- porters are located," he
are eager to do business in
tween foreign and local companies, either by said.
their countries of origin,
In 1992 $ 54,093,528
sharing his know-how of cultural sensibili-
Mr. Corson's office com- In 1993: $ 77,951,058
but some, particularly
ties, offering market analyses or actually municates with commerce In 1994: $123,993,627
freight-forwarding compa-
locating agents and distributors abroad.
department offices all over In 1995: $ 57,477,875 (through June)
nies, are looking at Israel,
Israel has never looked better to U.S. and the world, including a
too, Mr. Corson said.
Michigan companies.
counterpart in Tel Aviv
"I haven't encountered
Top Michigan exports to Israel:
From 1993 to 1994, for example, exports that helps American ex-
anti-Israel sentiment, and
Transportation
equipment
from the state to Israel jumped 59 percent, porters find buyers in Is-
that goes for my Arab
Industrial machinery,
Mr. Corson said. A year earlier, they in- rael.
clients, as well," he said.
computer
equipment
creased by 44 percent:
"On any given day we Fabricated metal products
The commercial boycott of
"Israel is recognized as a major actor on may be dealing with a
Israeli-made products by
the world scene," Mr. Corson said. "There's dozen countries," he said. Electronic and electric equipment
Arab
countries is also on
(excluding computers)
the recognition also that as the peace process
As a Jew, Mr. Corson Furniture and fixtures
the wane; Mr. Corson said
moves along, greater emphasis will be placed said, he has a personal in-
fewer people here have
on economic development in the area. And terest in Israeli-American Chemicals and allied products
mentioned to him that
companies in Michigan recognize Israel is a trade.
they've been asked to com-
prosperous country and has an appetite for
As a graduate student at George Wash- ply with the boycott, which is illegal in the
American products and services."
ington University, he studied Middle East- U.S.
Judith Barnett of the U.S. Commerce De- ern politics and history. Then he went on to
Most of the companies here that are look-
partment in Washington said roughly 200 earn his law degree from Washburn Uni- ing at Israel as a fertile market for their goods
American companies have investments to- versity in Topeka before joining the U.S. De- are run by non-Jews, Mr. Corson said.
taling $1.5 billion in Israel.
partment of Commerce. Mr. Corson, 35, was GLOBAL GUY page 42

