The Greater Irvine Chamber convened business leaders, elected officials, and global trade partners on May 7 to celebrate Irvine Global Trade Day, recognizing the city’s leadership in international commerce and advancing new resources to support exporters.
The event featured the presentation of a Board of Directors–adopted proclamation to the City of Irvine, formally designating the first Thursday in May annually as Irvine Global Trade Day, along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the launch of the Chamber’s expanded online export documentation services.
Greater Irvine Chamber President & CEO Dave Coffaro opened the program by highlighting Irvine’s global economic impact and the importance of equipping businesses to compete internationally. He welcomed Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, Irvine Councilmember Melinda Liu, representatives of the offices of Irvine City Councilmembers, and representatives from other elected officials’ offices, along with Chamber leadership and regional trade partners.
Special guests included Richard Swanson, acting director, U.S. Commercial Service Orange County; Jim Mayfield, senior advisor-Washington, D.C., Vriens & Partners; Bill Edwards of the District Export Council Southern California, Destinee Broussard, president of Women in International Trade Orange County; and Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassadors, among others engaged in strengthening the region’s global business ecosystem.
Following the proclamation presentation by Coffaro and Greater Irvine Chamber Board Chair Sherry Main, elected officials and their representatives presented Certificates of Recognition to the City, underscoring Irvine’s role as a central driver of regional economic strength and international business activity.
The program concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the launch of the Greater Irvine Chamber’s online export documentation platform—an essential tool designed to simplify and accelerate global trade for businesses.
The Greater Irvine Chamber’s platform enables companies to efficiently create, submit, and retrieve critical export documents—including Certificates of Origin, Certificates of Free Sale, and commercial invoices—through a streamlined, secure digital process. Backed by internationally recognized standards and verification, the service ensures both speed and compliance, two factors essential for success in global markets.
As the organization serving Orange County’s largest business community, the Greater Irvine Chamber offers more than document certification—it provides trusted guidance, global trade expertise, and direct connections to partners such as the U.S. Commercial Service and District Export Council. This combination of credibility, resources, and regional leadership positions the Chamber as apreferred, trusted source for exporters.
Companies looking to expand internationally—or streamline their current export processes—are encouraged to explore the Greater Irvine Chamber’s online trade documentation services and connect with the Chamber for guidance.
Learn more and get started: Export Documentation Services
By aligning business leadership, government, and trade resources, the Greater Irvine Chamber is helping ensure that local companies are equipped to grow—and compete—on a global stage.
