Staff for the nonprofit Kansas Global Trade Services and the state of Kansas will speak at six gatherings of local government and business leaders around the state in coming months.

The Wichita Eagle reports the first meeting will be Thursday in Manhattan. A Wichita meeting will be announced soon.

Wichita is an export powerhouse because of its aircraft industry, but industries such as machinery, chemicals and agriculture also export. Development officials say they will aim not at the large firms in those industries but at niche companies and suppliers.

Studies cited by Kansas Global Trade Services have found that each additional $1 billion in exports equals 6,000 jobs.