A Green Light on Canada

Each day, 365 days a year, two-way trade between the
U.S. and Canada is $1.65 billion in goods and
services!

However, building a strategy for success in the Canada market requires dedication and patience.

Freshly returned from my second trade mission to Canada in 2010, I am convinced of the value and importance of this market.

Canada is a dynamic and sophisticated country - with a heroic history and rich cultural diversity.

Ontario Facts

Canada’s economic engine!

Accounts for 65% of US exports to
Canada
40% of Canada’s GDP
38.5% of Canada’s population
One of the world’s most multicultural
cities with 140 languages.

Quebec Facts

Canada’s 2nd most important
economic region.
19% of Canada’s GDP
70% of $250B GDP comes from
service sector.
23% of Canada’s population
French is the official language
Bilingual business community
A top 15 US trade partner

Thanks to the U.S. Commercial Services for the above statistics.


Spotlight on Canadians Making a Difference

David Suzuki, Scientist, Environmentalist, Author

Quote: "The global economy hides hides the true ecological and social costs of the products we consume. To see our place on the planet, we have to shift from an anthropocentric view that we are at the center of everything to a biocentric view that we are part of and utterly dependant on a web of life."

Courtesy of The Globe and Mail

Commerce is Green in Mexico

Courtesy of SYNC Weekly Highlights from the North Carolina Department of Commerce

October 5th, 2010

(Pictured: Alejandro Castellanos Rodriguez, Director General Adjunto, Secretaria De Energia, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, with Owen George during the Green Expo Mexico )


The Green Expo 2010 took place Sept. 28-30
at the World Trade Center in Mexico City,
with more than 160 exhibitors displaying
leading-edge solutions in environmental
sustainability from around the world. The
event brought together hundreds of buyers
and sellers of green technology to discuss
various opportunities in the Mexican market.
Three North Carolina companies exhibited in
the N.C. Dept. of Commerce sponsored booth
at the exposition. The customer traffic was
very good and the North Carolina companies
reported strong show results that exceeded
their expectations. Commerce Business
Development Manager Kuldip Wasson and
Trade Representative Laura Camberos
participated in the event to facilitate North
Carolina exports and help the companies
form alliances and partnerships with Mexican
buyers.

© 2010 North Carolina Department of Commerce | SYNCTM is a trademark of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

It's the Global Economy, Friend

Global players such as 3M and McDonald's are not the only USA based companies getting a boost in the global marketplace. Plenty of savvy small to medium size companies are setting their sights - and building revenue through well planned export strategies.

While the critics may lament a fall from the "good old days" when the USA market was big enough to sustain the heartland, today's reality is multilingual.

Small USA companies with great products and a vision are seeing export sales grow.

For many a small company, in many a small city or town, sales in the global marketplace are creating a success story that helps support the new American Dream -while supporting traditional values of the local community.

For a small to medium size company, the transition from domestic to international business can be extremely challenging.

As in any venture, the journey begins with the first step.

For more on developing a global market for your company, contact your regional office of the US Commercial Services.

(Pictured: Owen George with Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of US and Foreign Commercial Service at the US Department of Commerce, Suresh Kumar, during RepCAN, a US Commercial Services trade mission to Montreal Canada)

Owen George Presents "Successful Strategies" at EuroTrade Forum

On Tuesday, May 3rd, Owen George presented "Successful Strategies for the European Market" at the U.S. Commercial Services EuroTrade Forum 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

Meeting at the beautiful Marriot World Center resort, several hundred members of the MEP joined representatives of USA based manufacturing - and the U.S. Commercial Services Europe regional team.

Representing Thermaco, Inc., Owen shared strategies and real life experiences in the journey to succeed in exporting to Europe.

A highlight of the day was a visit from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, who spoke of the big challenge ahead to meet President Obama's goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years.

Thanks go to the outstanding MEP and U.S. Commercial Services teams for hosting this outstanding event!

pictured: Roger Kilmer, Director, NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (L), was an outstanding host during the 2010 MEP National Conference.





(The description below is from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership's website.)

Transatlantic trade between the United States and Europe is the single largest trading partnership in the world with U.S. bilateral trade with Europe totaling nearly $600 billion! European markets offer significant opportunities for U.S. businesses, whether small or medium-sized, new-to-export, or new-to-market!

The European regions of the U.S. Commercial Service is excited to have selected the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Conference as the venue for its annual international tradecraft and client counseling program, the EuroTrade Forum.

The MEP conference will provide you with a forum to meet 28 Senior Commercial Officers (SCOs) from U.S. Embassies throughout Europe and to reach an extensive network of manufacturing partners and clients. Via a program of seminars and individual counseling sessions, the U.S. Commercial Service will assist you and other invited manufacturers with exporting your products and services to Europe.



All U.S. manufacturers and service providers participating in the EuroTrade Forum, will benefit from sessions on:

• Basics of exporting
• Export financing and logistics
• Intellectual property protection, legal and regulatory considerations
• Market overviews

• Plus, one-on-one counseling sessions with U.S. Senior Commercial Officers will help you identify market opportunities for your firm!

The Greening of Mexico City

Good things are happening in Mexico City. Just take a walk through the historic Zocolo, located in the colonial center of this huge and vibrant city. Trees are being planted along cobblestone streets. Buildings dating to the city's colonial past are finding new life as cafes and restaurants. Tourists from around the world marvel at ancient Aztec temples located just meters away from the imposing sixteenth century Spanish cathedral. The air is noticeably cleaner than before. Infrastructure projects in areas such as water and sewer are improving the quality of life - and helping protect the natural environment.

Owen George Global Strategies is proud to be a part of the positive news from Mexico. Our client Thermaco, Inc. provides technology and services to recycle water and protect the waste water infrastructure - helping build a better tomorrow.

Pictured: (Left) Ann Bacher, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Mexico City with Owen George during the recent Green Expo in Mexico City; (Right) The historic Metropolitan Cathedral located in the Zocolo, the heart of colonial Mexico City.

Save the Date: Owen George joins CED Global Business Development Program

From the CED Website: CED, in partnership with North Carolina Department of Commerce, International Trade Division, TiE Carolinas, World Trade Association, and North Carolina China Business Association, is hosting a program on international business development for North Carolina companies seeking to expand operations globally.

This Entrepreneurs Only event will be held March 16th at the CED's Entrepreneurship Center in Durham.

For more information on CED and the upcoming Global Business Development Program




CED's Mission Statement:

To identify, enable and promote high growth, high impact companies and to accelerate the entrepreneurial culture of the Research Triangle and North Carolina.