Washington had a record year for sales where the state provided export aid.

Fiscal 2011 had sales of $241.3 million from state export assistance, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.

The departments' programs provide small- and medium-sized businesses with export training and counseling and help with international trade show participation and assist with trading partner and market introductions, according to the state.

Clients using WSDA export assistance saw sales grow to $94.3 million for fiscal 2011, creating an estimated 790 jobs. Commerce clients reported $147 million for 2011, more than double the figure from 2010.

"One of our strengths is trade -- already one in three Washington jobs is tied to trade," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "But other countries have a much higher percentage of their companies exporting their products and services. That's why I launched the Washington Export Initiative to increase the number of companies exporting by 30 percent by 2015."

Four percent of Washington companies are engaged in exporting today -- four times the national average, but 6 percent of Canadian companies export.