Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Video: Orlando Connects to Global Economy

Irma Stenman explains how she helps Global Companies connect to Central Florida, and Orlando companies to Global Markets. (Irma is Director of International Business Development for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission.)

Click here to see the Video.
Click here to learn about the EDC's Export Program.


Monday, March 29, 2010

Pushing U.S. Exports to New Heights

President Obama is pushing a new initiative to double U.S. exports in 5 years. This has sparked discussion across the country, including a recent event in Orlando, Fl., promoted by Sen. George LeMieux. Here are a few Exporting Tips shared at the event:
  • Be wary of offering exclusive agreements to foreign partners or distributors because this could limit your ability to sell through new channels.
  • Understand that U.S. law doesn't apply in many cases involving U.S. business deals that take place overseas.
  • Be selective about whom you choose as a foreign partner because foreign laws can make it difficult to dissolve partnerships.
For more information, read:

Friday, March 26, 2010

Global Finance Tips

Left to Right: J. Stephen Fancher (Florida Export Finance Corp.), Cynthia Flores (SunTrust Bank), Ray Gibeau (S.B.A.), Byron Sutton (World Trade Center Orlando)

Here are some Global Finance Tips shared at this week's World Trade Center Orlando seminar:
  • U.S. companies should seek Credit-Risk Insurance to protect against the possibility that a Foreign Buyer will renege on their payment
  • Wire Transfers are among the Best Forms of Global Payment
  • U.S. companies should set up a separate bank account that only handles foreign transactions to reduce the potential for fraud
For more information about Trade Finance, visit:

Monday, March 22, 2010

Global Shipping Boom: Port Canaveral, Fl.

Business is booming at Port Canaveral, Fl., as U.S. exports bounce back this year, and American companies ship more stuff to the rest of the world. At Port Canaveral, Cargo Revenue jumped 71% in February. Meanwhile, Cruise-Passenger activity rose 40%. Read more here.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Global Newsletter: Orlando, Fl.


The Metro Orlando EDC's International Brief is online. Click here to read the March 2010 edition.
  • Scroll down the left side to read "Build a Global Brand in 5 Steps."
  • Scroll towards bottom to read about Orlando's International Development Activities.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Google Market Share in China

Global Internet Marketers are closely watching China and Google spar over censorship issues. The big question: How will the dispute affect Google's status - and Global Marketing Efforts - in the World's Largest Internet Market? Will U.S. exporters have to place even more advertising emphasis on Baidu, China's top search engine?

Friday, March 12, 2010

Global Newsletters

Global Reading: World Trade Center Orlando's bi-monthly newsletters can be found here.


Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Seminar: Small Business Exporting

03/24 Orlando, Fl
Seminar: Small Business Export Expo

Topics:

Export readiness, strategies, and functions for existing businesses
Partner identification and qualification
Export compliance and clearance
Warehousing and logistics


Speakers:
U.S. Department of Commerce
Small Business Administration
SCORE
Limitless International
Priority One Brokers Inc.

Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Place: Disney Entrepreneur Center
315 East Robinson Street, Suite 100, Orlando, Fl.
Cost: Free

To RSVP, call 407-318-2730 or
email rsvpevent@lemieux.senate.gov

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Seminar: Global Trade Financing

03/23/10
Seminar: Global Trade Financing

Speakers
J. Stephen Fancher, Florida Export Finance Corp.
Todd G. Kocourek, Florida First Capital Finance Corp.
Cynthia A. Flores, V.P. SunTrust Bank

Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 11:30am to 2:00pm
Location: Citrus Club, 255 South, Orange Ave, Orlando, FL
Fee: $35 for WTCO members, $60 for non-members

For more information:
407-894-5740 (phone)
info@worldtradecenterorlando.org (email)



Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Google Ranked World's Best Website

Google edged Facebook as the World's Best Website, according to the 2010 Web Globalization Report Card. The website rankings were based on factors including the number of Languages offered, Global Reach, Social Networking features and navigation ease. The Top 25 Global Websites are listed below. For information about the report, click here.

Top 25 Global Websites
  1. Google
  2. Facebook
  3. Cisco Systems
  4. Philips
  5. Samsung
  6. Wikipedia
  7. 3M
  8. NIVEA
  9. Symantec
  10. Lenovo
  11. Xbox
  12. Autodesk
  13. Gmail
  14. Microsoft
  15. Nokia
  16. Intel
  17. Caterpillar
  18. Panasonic
  19. HP
  20. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
  21. LG
  22. Volvo Group
  23. Hotels.com
  24. SAP
  25. Kodak
    Source: Byte Level Research

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

U.S. Lags in Internet Ranking

When it comes to Internet connections, the U.S. placed 15th in a Global Ranking of broadband penetration. (Nordic countries - such as Denmark and Norway - captured 5 of the top 8 slots.) This means that millions of people and businesses in other parts of the world are benefiting from faster Internet connections than their counterparts in the U.S. (See the Top 15 Global Ranking below.) To see the Global Ranking report, click here.

U.S. Congress is preparing a national broadband plan to close the gap. Read a short news article here. Listen to an NPR radio story here.

Internet-Broadband Penetration (per 100 people)
Global Ranking
1) Denmark
2) Netherlands
3) Norway
4) Switzerland
5) Iceland
6) South Korea
7) Sweden
8) Finland
9) Luxembourg
10) Canada
11) United Kingdom
12) Belgium
13) France
14) Germany
15) United States
Source: OECD 2008