Trade Missions Our History:  Trade Missions ABWI's first official foray into the international marketplace took place in April, 1996 at the "Business Connections '96” trade show, which was held in Warrington, England. ABWI members brought together high level officials of the Warrington Borough Council from England and members of the Lake County government and business community from Northern Illinois. Later that year, ABWI also introduced Warrington to New Mexico state officials and hosted them in New Mexico during the Balloon Fiesta in October 1996. Finally, ABWI hosted a VIP dinner in Illinois during the Warrington Council's visit to ratify the economic twinship between Warrington, England and Lake County. In May of 1997, ABWI was once again featured at the Business Connections venue in Warrington and continued to expand its outreach into Europe. See More About Our Past Successes in England, Australia and China