1. MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: WEST PAW DESIGN (BOZEMAN)
2. MWTC BOARD MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: FOUNDER OF FRONTIER ANGEL FUND LOVES TO TAKE RISKS
3. SENATOR BAUCUS’S BUSINESS STIMULUS
4. MISSOULA PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
5. CALL FOR PAPERS! 2008 NATIONAL SUMMIT OF MINING COMMUNITIES IN BUTTE AND ANACONDA
6. MONTANA EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY
7. LOCAL BIO-FUELS PLANT JOINS WITH PEAKS AND PRAIRIES AT CUTTING EDGE OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY
8. MEMBER ALERT: OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE MATERIALS AT THE GLOBE 2008 (Vancouver, B.C) PAVILION
9. TALKS WITH CHINA BRING PROGRESS ON TRADE ISSUES
10. FACILITATING BUSINESS TRAVEL CRUCIAL TO U.S. INVESTMENT
11. 2008 INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM
12. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
13. MOTIVATED BY A TAX, IRISH SPURN PLASTIC BAGS
14. HOT OPPORTUNITY: THE OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS (CANADA)
15. FITA’S FEATURED COUNTRY: MEXICO
16. BETTER PROSPECTS THROUGH THE CANADA-BRAZIL TRADE PORTAL
1. MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: WEST PAW DESIGN (BOZEMAN)
Niche companies fuel Bozeman boom (Compliments of MATR.NET) By ERIN MADISON Tribune Business Writer
When West Paw Design moved to Montana from Colorado in the mid-90s, it came in the trunk of the owner's car — a box of fabric and a sewing machine.
Spencer Williams, president of the company which manufactures pet toys and beds, bought the business and moved it from Livingston to Bozeman in 1998.
"When I bought it, it was a very small company," Williams said.
Now West Paw Design is just one of the many niche manufacturing companies located in Bozeman. And niche manufacturing is just one of Bozeman's growing industries.
"Our economy is continuing to diversify," said Bob Hietala, CEO of Prospera Business Network, a non-profit aimed at expanding economic growth in Bozeman.
Niche manufacturing is one leg of that, with companies such as West Paw Design; Simms, which makes waders and other fishing accessories; Blackhawk, which manufactures military, law enforcement, security, and outdoor gear; and Mystery Ranch, which makes backpacks and is owned by the former owner of Dana Designs, a longtime Bozeman company that also made backpacks.
Bozeman has also become a hot spot in the state for technology companies. LigoCyte develops medicines, mainly vaccines. Zoot Technologies does credit approvals for financial institutions throughout the country. Right Now Technologies makes software for online purchasing and other customer service needs.
"We still have a strong agriculture part to the economy," Hietala said. "It's nowhere near as dominant as it once was."
"The retail side has obviously grown, and people see that every time they come to town," he said.
The past year was a huge year for commercial development, said David Smith, executive director of the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce.
"Retail follows rooftops," Smith said.
Bozeman has averaged about 800 new dwelling units per year in the last four years, and that gets the attention of national retailers, he said.
Last year, Stone Ridge shopping center went in on 19th Avenue, which includes Cost Plus World Market, Sportsman's Warehouse, Linens 'n Things, Office Depot and IHOP.
Rosauers grocery store also built a huge store in Bozeman, and the city got another Staples.
There are many national retail chains that in the past have only looked at Billings and maybe Missoula that now clearly want to be in Bozeman, Smith said.
With all the growth, construction trades have also expanded, Hietala said. Financial services have expanded as well.
With Yellowstone National Park and a number of ski areas nearby, tourism remains strong for Bozeman, Smith said.
Because of that and because of the number of people who travel for business out of Bozeman, Bozeman's airport offers air service typically seen in communities about five times the size of Bozeman, he said.
"We have great air service ... by small-community standards," Smith said.
The medical community has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, which Smith believes is something that makes Bozeman so attractive.
When people are looking to relocate they want safe streets, good schools, and medical care is high on the list as well, he said.
"It was really broken bones and babies 12 years ago," Smith said.
Bozeman Deaconess Hospital owns about 400 acres of land, which the hospital board purchased in the 1950s. That gives the hospital room to expand, and has created a sub-area within the city.
One interesting measure of how much Bozeman has grown is that, in 2000, bank deposits in Bozeman totaled $600 million, Hietala said. In 2006, they reached $1.5 billion.
"That just speaks to the growth that has happened over that time," he said.
Technology
In 2000, John O'Donnell founded an organization called Tech Ranch.
The idea was to help create more high-paying, intellectually stimulating jobs in Montana, and help reduce the "brain drain" of Montanans moving out of state to find jobs after graduation.
Tech Ranch helps entrepreneurs develop a business plan, find funding avenues and get their companies off the ground.
They work across the state, but have an incubator facility in Bozeman where budding companies can set up shop for a year and a half to two years.
In its eight years, Tech Ranch has helped 64 companies get their start, O'Donnell said.
"Probably 20 (of those) companies are treading water or better," he said. "A few of them are pretty big standouts."
Tech Ranch isn't part of Montana State University, but it's closely connected to it, O'Donnell said. The organization helps commercialize technology developed at MSU.
One example of that is Bacterin, which develops biomedical products. The core technology used by that company was developed at MSU, O'Donnell said. Bacterin employs about 45 people, most with advanced degrees. Without the help of Tech Ranch, the founder probably never would have started the company, and all those people would have gone out of state to find jobs.
"Or they'd be waiters and waitresses, or ski bums," O'Donnell said.
LigoCyte, which develops drugs, mainly vaccines, got its start in Bozeman in 1998.
The two founders met at Stanford and one had ties to MSU, so they started their company there, said Robert Goodwin, president and chief operating officer.
There's always a natural ring of tech companies that develop around universities, he said.
Over the past 10 years, those tech companies have developed into a more cohesive community.
The companies share tips about what's been successful and what hasn't, Goodwin said.
"Cross-fertilization is important," he said.
Many of Bozeman's technology companies are located in a tech park near MSU that was set up by the university as early as 1980.
Every time a tech company in Bozeman is successful, it helps the tech community there, Goodwin said. It proves it's easier than ever to run those kinds of companies in Montana, and brings greater comfort for investors to put money into technology businesses in the state.
Most investors believe tech companies can thrive in Montana, but the bar is raised a little higher for those businesses, Goodwin said.
To get investors to leave Boston or San Francisco to come look at projects here, those projects have to be more interesting than what they can see across the street, he said.
"I think we're up to the challenge."
Williams was drawn to West Paw Designs because he likes the satisfaction of manufacturing, and he thought an increasing number of people would start spending more money on their pets. He was right. Pet-related industries have exploded since he purchased his company.
Williams estimates that West Paw Designs, which employs 32 people, is about three times the size it was when he moved it to Bozeman in 1998.
While manufacturing in Montana comes with some logistical obstacles, such as freight costs and a small work pool, Bozeman is popular location for niche manufacturing companies, Williams said.
There's a real community of entrepreneurship in Bozeman, he said.
"Bozeman has a lot of creativity," Williams said, and that creativity is accepted and nurtured.
Resources such as the Prospera Business Network, Tech Ranch and Montana State University help current and future business owners get their ideas of the ground.
A sort of informal manufacturing group has been started in Bozeman. They meet monthly to discuss common challenges.
There's also an openness among companies, Williams said. Officials from one company might go tour another company's operations, or businesses might trade information about certain kinds of fabrics or other supplies.
Something most manufacturing operations in Bozeman have in common is that they're not putting out smoke and smog.
"We're clean manufacturing," Williams said.
West Paw Design makes many of its products out of recycled goods.
Bozeman's manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to help the environment, and many of their products have some environmental connection, Williams said.
"I think Bozeman has an opportunity to grow in that way," he said.
Who's moving in?
Bozeman started heating up in the late '90s, said Tech Ranch's O'Donnell. In 2003 and 2004, it really started cooking.
People were getting tired of living in crowded cities and wanted a small, remote town. Then Bozeman started appearing on lots of best-places-to-live lists.
"I think it was the perfect storm," O'Donnell said.
The main cause of the explosive growth in Bozeman is Montana kids who grow up elsewhere in the state, go to MSU and end up staying, Tech Ranch's O'Donnell said.
"The majority of growth in Bozeman is from people moving from other parts of Montana to Bozeman," he said.
Although there are also people moving in from the Midwest, Colorado, Washington state and elsewhere, he said.
Bozeman is gaining a reputation as a young, vibrant community, Smith of the Chamber of Commerce said.
Bozeman is small, but it has a lot of good restaurants and shopping, O'Donnell said.
It also has a really good airport, a good university and good schools, but the biggest draw is the quality of life there, he said.
"The other things are the icing on the cake," he said.
With telecommuting becoming so common, many people who live in Bozeman, work elsewhere, Smith said.
"It's definitely a new economy," he said. "It's a different way to do business."
People are coming to Bozeman because of the lifestyle there, said West Paw's Williams.
For those who can't telecommute, they come looking for good jobs. Some find them. Others create their own work, which helps explain the explosion of small companies in Bozeman.
2. MWTC BOARD MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: FOUNDER OF FRONTIER ANGEL FUND LOVES TO TAKE RISKS (InBusinessMonthly)
By LORI GRANNIS
When Liz Marchi began offering investment shares in the Frontier Angel Fund in March 2006, she had no idea just how many people would be interested.
She also wasn't certain how many folks could ante up the minimum $50,000 per unit.
When the Frontier Angel Fund closed the fund after meeting projected share sales at the end of 2006, Marchi's expectations had been exceeded.
The fund, which originally sought $1.5 million in working capital, had raised $1.8 million.
With a waiting list of new companies wanting a first look for initial financing, and few able to find the early-stage funding they needed to get going, Marchi knew Montana's investment infrastructure was in dire need of a cash injection.
With investors lining up to invest in a second fund, angel investing seemed a possible solution.
The state's first member-managed, organized angel fund, Frontier Angel is part of a multistate network of funds being managed by RAIN Source Capital.
The idea of angel funding, while relatively new, is rapidly taking seed across the United States.
According to the National Venture Capitalist, a venture fund trade group, venture-backed companies pay twice the average wage of traditional debt-financed companies.
Apart from a return on investment, investing in Montana's economy and future work force is the driving force behind Marchi becoming an angel investor and initiating the fund.
Q: For clarification, what is the difference between angel investors and venture capitalists?
A: Venture capitalists are professional investors of other people's money. Angel investors are accredited investors, but not professionals, who find investing rewarding, and have the ability to invest their own money. They say "angel money" is the first money in after friends, family and fools. Venture typically invests a lot more money.
Q: What is your background in finance?
A: I grew up in Auburn, Ala., in a university environment, watching people commercialize research and products. My dad was a research Ph.D. doing work for NASA. Out of college, I worked in banking as a credit analyst. It gave me an opportunity to analyze all kinds of businesses. I was interested in what people were endeavoring - and why - and who did and didn't do well. In 2000, I got a call from a headhunter asking if I would interview for a job in the Flathead Valley as head of a local economic development office. Once here, I realized that Montana had a huge window of opportunity for creating value within the state with innovation and new technology. Six years later I started the Frontier Angel Fund.
Q: How did the Frontier Angel Fund come together?
A: We began raising money in March of 2006. I didn't have any idea how much we could raise, but it exceeded expectations. The units were offered at $50,000 each. Today, we have a total of 33 investors, with several buying more than one unit. We closed the fund on Dec. 31, 2006. We then began looking at companies to invest in.
Q: What kind of person becomes an angel investor?
A: I have five doctors, a veterinarian, three attorneys, and at least four people who were once either chief financial officers or chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies. Currently, five states of residency are represented in the fund, including California, Georgia, Vermont, Texas and Nevada. Each investor must also be an "accredited investor" by Securities and Exchange Commission definition. That means they must have $1 million in net worth and an annual income of $100,000 or more. It goes without saying that angels must like and be comfortable with risk. It may not be for the average person, but it encompasses more people in Montana than you may think.
Q: How do members come together to make decisions and operate as a group?
A: We use Web-based Internet software called Angel Soft. It was developed by the Angels of New York. Our Web site, www.frontierangels.com, has a secure side just for members to communicate, and another side that announces events of public interest, and how to apply to the fund. Our group meets in person every other month. In alternate months, our appointed screening committee meets to look at companies. Typically, they'll recommend two or three to present to the group. We then vote on whether we want to pursue a due diligence phase to examine them more closely. If for whatever reason the fund votes not to invest, individuals can make investments.
Q: What are your criteria for investment into a company?
A: Most businesses we invest in are not yet cash-flow positive. They don't always have a management team in place, so we take observation rights, or a seat on a board. Our fund will typically only invest $100,000 to $200,000, at most, in a high-risk, high-return company with a new technology or innovation because diversity is a key issue for our fund.
Q: How many angel investor groups or funds currently exist in Montana?
A: There is only one other: Bridger Private Capital Network. They have put together a group of accredited angel investors, but didn't structure it as a fund. The advantage of having a "fund" is the ability to move through a process in a group with some kind of time line. We found that process to be much more satisfying for companies and investors.
Q: Why high-risk, early stage investments?
A: I love risk - it's why I endeavored this. There are lots of banks and government programs out there for new businesses, and most economic development groups have loan funds. Those sort of finance new building and equipment. It's not risk money. Taking a new idea or product to market is risky, but it's exciting.
Q: How can a startup business with a good idea look polished enough to get funded?
A: We provide a ton of information about what their presentation needs to include when we select them as someone we want to pursue in the due diligence phase. They need to do projections, have financial statements in order, and know what they need the money for. A lot of entrepreneurs who have good ideas haven't thought that through. Because I came out of a development background, if a company isn't ready, we have the resources to refer them to someone who can help.
Q: Is there a benchmark for how much money a fund must raise, or maintain, to be successful?
A: There's not a benchmark. It depends on what your market is and what you have defined as your universe of investments. In our case we typically want to invest $100,000 in a company that has an initial valuation of $2 million. If it's over that, it doesn't buy us enough equity to be successful for us. That is our benchmark.
Q: What must a startup company have in order to attract the interest of angel investors?
A: Most important is that it's a business that can scale to an uncertain size. A lot of people want to start a lifestyle business, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not right for equity investment. We need a business that has an exit potential - we want to get our money back. Angels are patient investors, but in five to seven years we'd like to see our money back. A company's management team is important to us. The question is do they have a team that can actually grow the business? It also has to be a company with some kind of proprietary technology, or intellectual property, not just a series of existing bundled products.
Q: What are the key things you like to see in a company before you fund them?
A: We want founders to have "skin in the game" - we want them to have put their own money in the company, or have a lot of sweat equity invested. We don't want to own 51 percent of your company, we just want to be a part of it. We generally like a company to have a product or service ready to go to market, and we don't fund research and development.
Q: What can the state do to retain entrepreneurs who develop innovative technology and create jobs?
A: One of the things we have to do is build the whole chain of capital and support. We have to have angel funds, then early- and mid-stage venture capital. There is only one venture group domiciled here in Montana. Glacier Venture is an early-stage venture fund. Fortunately, we are always networking relationships with other funds. We have relationships with Highway 12 Ventures in Boise, Idaho, and Seattle-based Buerk Dale Victor. Having relationships with other funds means they will likely co-invest with you if you're next door to a company. Informal trusted networks make things possible.
Q: What are the holes in economic development statewide?
A: I think the whole culture of entrepreneurs is really important for us as a state. We have emerged as a small business and service economy, and the infrastructure to support that doesn't hold up. We need more incubators, education and expertise. We need more collaboration across the state in terms of supporting entrepreneurial activity from business schools to incubators. We need to drive more of the research and intellectual property out of our university system into the marketplace, and ratchet up patents across the state. So much of our economic development is focused on lending and debt, and we need to find a way to be more supportive.
Q: A successful local entrepreneur recently told me that he thinks angel investors like to "have fun and play games and drink wine with other angel investors," but that they are inexperienced. He said that he thinks innovation is often lost on their inexperience, and that it hurts local area economic development. What do you think of that statement?
A: I could not agree with him more. We have to build the whole chain of capital and support, and most investors around here are inexperienced. As a group, one of the things we have identified as important is investor education. We need more experience and expertise to enhance the investment infrastructure. Our group has already done three workshops that are licensed by the Kauffman Foundation - an endowment organization that provides funding for the advancement of entrepreneurship. The point is, we have glanced over 150 companies since forming our fund. We have seriously looked at 25 out of that group, and invested in four of those. There is huge need and more seeding in the early stages of high-risk, high-return venture companies needs to be happening. I think that will happen more as people see how it works.
Lori Grannis is the InBusiness reporter for the Missoulian. She can be reached at 523-5251 or llgrannis@missoulian.com.
3. SENATOR BAUCUS’S BUSINESS STIMULUS
The Economy seems to be on the mind of every Montanan these days. Senator Max Baucus asked me to pass along a summary of his Economic Stimulus proposal which is expected to be voted on by the Senate Finance Committee later this week. You may have read about a proposal by the House of Representatives and the White House. Senator Baucus believes the Finance package could stimulate the economy better than the House proposal in a number of ways. The Baucus proposal expands the tax rebate to include seniors and payroll taxpayers, extends jobless benefits, and adds relief for struggling businesses. The full Baucus Economic Stimulus proposal will be available later today on the Finance Committee website at http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/legislation.htm. Summaries of key elements below:
Individual Rebate:
Every single American with $3000 in qualifying income (or Social Security benefits) who files a tax return in 2007 will receive a $500 stimulus check. This amount will be doubled to $1000 total for married couples filing jointly. A bonus of $300 will be provided to families for each child under age 17 who qualifies under current child tax credit rules. This makes only minor modifications to the House-Administration agreement on economic stimulus, but will add millions of Americans – mostly retirees – to the eligible class of rebate recipients.
Business Stimulus:
For companies losing money in this economic downturn, the Baucus proposal extends a provision allowing corporations to apply excess net operating losses to tax returns from prior profitable years and receive any applicable refunds. For 2006 and 2007 losses, the “net operating loss carryback” will be extended to five years from the two years currently in law. This proposal also expands Section 179 expensing of equipment for small businesses and bonus depreciation for business property that is purchased and placed into service by large companies during 2008.
Unemployment Insurance:
Max’s bill would make 13 weeks of additional unemployment insurance (UI) benefits available to jobless Americans through the end of December 2008. Some of the hardest hit areas would be able to extend benefits even further.
The full Senate is expected to consider the Finance Committee product shortly after Committee consideration.
If you have questions, comments or concerns about this proposal, please let us know.
Warmest Regards,
Joseph J. Adams
Economic Development Advisor
U.S. Senate Finance Committee
202.224.4086 / Office
202.228.0567 / Fax
Joseph_Adams@finance-dem.senate.gov
4. MISSOULA PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
Serving Beaverhead, Butte/Silverbow, Deer Lodge, Granite, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and Ravalli Counties
What we do:
The Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center goal is to maximize the number of capable US companies participating in the government marketplace. The counselors at the Montana PTAC are here to help you learn the ins-and-outs of government contracting while helping you avoid the pitfalls that plague many first time government contract holders.
· How to sell to the government
· Understanding bid documents
· Find out what the government buys
· Help with registration processing, etc.
· Bid/Proposal work, including review prior to submittal
· Understanding the bidding process & associated documents
· Sub-Contracting
· And So much more!
We are comprised of a National Network that operates under a Cooperative Agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency headquarters. The federal government is the world’s largest buyer of products and services.
The Montana PTAC is a statewide program, so no matter where in Montana your business is located, you can get personal government marketing assistance at no charge.
About MT PTAC
The Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center is a statewide program focused on a mission to provide local area businesses with an understanding of the requirements of government contracting and the marketing know-how they need to obtain and successfully perform federal, state and local government contracts, and support government agencies in reaching and working with the suppliers they need.
In 2001, the Montana PTAC accepted a national award for "Center of the Year" presented by the Association of Government Marketing Assistance Specialists (AGMAS). This award recognized the Montana PTAC as a leader in the area of government procurement assistance for the United States.
The assistance provided by the Montana PTAC has helped bring more than $100 Million in government contracts into the state of Montana for more than three consecutive years.
In 2001, Montana PTAC clients collectively credited the program with the creation or retention of more than 2,400 jobs in the Treasure State.
Want to learn more? Contact Sharon Dailey, Manager, 406.532.3207
5. CALL FOR PAPERS! 2008 NATIONAL SUMMIT OF MINING COMMUNITIES IN BUTTE AND ANACONDA
Butte and Anaconda were selected to host the 2008 National Summit of Mining Communities this September 7-11, and we are sending out a call for papers (See attached PDF File). Take a look and see if you would like to submit a presentation, booth, poster, or topic. Also, if you can think of anyone that might be interested in submitting please pass this on. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. Thanks!
. SYMPOSIUM IN SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL TRADE: LAW OR POLITICS?
The Gonzaga Journal of International Law is proud to be hosting a symposium:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: LAW OR POLITICS?
February 28-29, 2008
Gonzaga University School of Law, in the Barbieri Courtroom
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE:
Professor Ichiro Araki (Japan) US-Japan Trade.
John Holleran, Attorney, (Itron) International Trade in the Real World
Professor Xin Juan Zhang (China) Contemporary issues: WTO and China
Professor David Aronofsky (Montana) WTO and the United States
Hem Mohan Bhattarai, (Attorney, Nepal) WTO and Nepal
Professor James Nafziger (Williamette) NAFTA
Brian Pangrle (Attorney, Lee and Hayes) Intellectual property and international trade
Mark Peters (Director, ITA) International Trade and Spokane
Professor Upendra Acharya (Gonzaga) WTO and the Least Developed Countries.
Professor Heng Wang (China) China and the WTO
Panelists: Prof. George Critchlow, Prof. Mike McClintock, Prof. Mary Pat Truethhart, Prof. Gerry Hess, Atty. Monica Holland, Prof. Nadin Farid, Prof. Brooks Holland, Prof. Megan Ballard
Sponsored by:
The International Trade Alliance
Gonzaga Law Society
For further information, please contact: Katie Claghorn at kclaghorn@lawschool.gonzaga.edu
6. MONTANA EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY
International Newsletter - February 2008
http://www.buyusa.gov/montana/newsletter.html
* Middle East & North Africa Trade & Investment Conference * Renewable Energy Trade Mission to Sweden & Denmark * Information, Webinar, and Conference on Mexico's National Infrastructure Plan * "U.S. and Mexico: Building Partnerships in Infrastructure" Conference * Asia/Pacific Business Outlook Conference * Metropolitan Export Data Series Fact Sheet * State of the Union Fact Sheet on Free Trade * WEBINAR: Education Sector in Vietnam * WEBINAR: Selling Medical & Dental Equipment in Brazil
7. LOCAL BIO-FUELS PLANT JOINS WITH PEAKS AND PRAIRIES AT CUTTING EDGE OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY (Compliments of MATR.NET)
Liberty County Times
Biotechnologies are an up and coming field, and a company right here in Chester is near the leading-edge of this emerging field. While the base technology is nothing new, the technology to make these fuels and lubricants every bit as good as, or even better than, their petroleum-based counterparts is.
And Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels, in conjunction with Peaks and Prairies out of Malta, are among those developing that technology!
On January 17 the Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels plant began another chapter in their evolution as they received equipment for testing and working on multiple grades of bio-lubricants. On hand were Steve Cermak and Jeff Forrester as the distillation unit for making vegetable oils into motor oil was being installed; along with some much-needed testing equipment. This is very significant as Cermak is the USDA Research Chemist who designed the molecule for the type of oil Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels and Peaks and Prairies is looking to use in their process; and he came all the way from Peoria Illinois to consult on the project.
“One of the things we do is finding new crops and new uses for U.S. crops,” Cermak said. “With non-traditional crops that sometimes means finding entirely new markets.”
According to Cermak, this material was developed and patented in 2000 when he was working on a project with a company out of Chicago; That company was subsequently bought by another that wasn't interested in the technology.
“It took a while to get the patent released for use,” Cermak said. “We have the patent released now.”
The base structure is called Estolide and is the base bio-motor oil. It can be used in the original formula or can be distilled for different properties.
Enter the new distillation unit!
The Earl-Fisher/Peaks and Prairies people are working to distill an oil that will flow at -40C and will have better wear and oxidation properties and low cloud temperatures.
“Of course, if you are running it in a vehicle in Arizona, you don't need to worry about those cold temperature problems, so you can use a less refined oil,” Cermak said.
The equipment is just a loaner and Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels will use it until they can get their market for the product on-line.
“I don't have a lot to do with this as this is mainly a Peaks and Prairies project,” Logan Fisher said. “But it will be great for the advancement of the bio-fuels technology and it will provide another opportunity for Montana Agriculture to lead in energy and renewable and biodegradable oils and lubes. It is great to have two Hi-Line companies working together on this.”
Brett Earl, who is the Earl in Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels and works for Peaks and Prairies as well, was excited about the new capabilities.
“It is awesome, it is like Christmas in January,” Brett Earl said. “The equipment is going to help us with the quality of our bio-diesel and help us with the research on oil seed to bio-diesel production.”
But the distillation unit is for the lubricants end and Brett Earl, as a member of the Peaks and Prairies team, is excited about that as well. He noted that the two companies and two products are strongly tied together.
“We take some of the oil of the Peaks and Prairies seed crusher to make bio-diesel,” Brett Earl said. “The best oils go to the lubricants production.”
With Brett Earl's direct ties to both companies, and Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels strong connection to the Peaks and Prairies projects, the two companies got some other exciting news recently; one of their lubricant blends pass an in-engine use test with flying colors.
“MSU-Northern did the test of the motor oil on a Honda engine and it really tested out well,” Earl said. “Keith Richardson ran the test and he told us ‘she likes that oil, she would have run for a long time on that' which we considered pretty high praise.”
Earl noted that the test proved that the high-end viscosity checked out and it did not show any wear or oxidation problems; oxidation was a concern Earl had about the bio-lubricants.
“We are going to have to send it to the American Petroleum Institute for testing and certification,” Earl said. “We are presently securing the funds for the testing, which is expensive. It will cost about $200,000 to get it certified for gas engines and $800,000 for the diesel certification.”
There are many things on the near horizon for Earl-Fisher Bio-fuels and Peaks and Prairies. One of the biggest of those will be finding a market once the certification is complete. One group they are looking at approaching is the military, which is in the process of making a significant commitment to biotechnologies for their equipment. 8. MEMBER ALERT: OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE MATERIALS AT THE GLOBE 2008 (Vancouver, B.C) PAVILION
www.globe2008.ca
The US Consul Generals offices has agreed to distribute MEEC/MWTC material at the US Pavilion at the GLOBE 2008 show, so please let us know if you would like to send information.
ABOUT
Thousands of corporate executives, government decision makers and leaders of the environmental industry will converge at GLOBE 2008. Plan to join them for three days of exciting and ground-breaking discussions, March 12-14, 2008 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
CONFERENCE THEMES:
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY Information and analysis on the trends, systems and tools driving corporate competitiveness to the next level under tough accountability requirements and increasing shareholder and consumer demands. More...
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY A comprehensive update on the global climate change agenda, creative solutions to increasing energy demand, new technologies, and how companies are seizing emerging business opportunities. More... (http://www.globe2008.ca/conference_corporate_sustainability.cfm)
FINANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY Explore the relationship between sustainable development and finance, with a focus on clean technology investment, regulation and policy, capital markets, and responsible investment strategies. More... (http://www.globe2008.ca/conference_finance_sustainability.cfm)
BUILDING BETTER CITIES Leading planners, architects, urban design specialists and municipal leaders share how they are incorporating sustainability principles into the design and construction of buildings, urban transportation systems, and energy and water systems. More... (http://www.globe2008.ca/conference_building_better_cities.cfm)
FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY The first event of its kind, Auto FutureTech Summit 2008 (http://www.autofuturetech.com/) will be an elite global gathering of representatives of the automotive and fuel sector's major stakeholders. Their purpose will be to explore together the key issues, challenges and opportunities that will confront the global automobile industry over the coming decade. Don't miss this unique opportunity to gain the perspectives of the industry's leading decision-makers on the forces that will drive change and determine success in the global marketplace of tomorrow. More...
Regions represented: South America (Chile), Central America (Costa Rica), Europe, Asia, and North America.
Conference Themes:
- Corporate Sustainability
- Climate Change and Energy
- Finance and Sustainability
- Building Better Cities
- Future of the Automotive Industry
Who attends:
-Corporate executives
-Financial executives
-Government policy makers
-Environmental industry executives
-International agency representatives from major development banks, multilateral development and aid agencies.
-Urban leaders and design professionals in economic revitalization, sustainable construction, eco-industrial development and urban governance, as well as architects, engineers and urban planning specialists.
-Domestic and international media representing television, radio, newspapers, magazines and web news sources.
9. TALKS WITH CHINA BRING PROGRESS ON TRADE ISSUES (International Trade Administration)
Opportunities were opened for U.S. exporters in key industries and several agreements were signed during the 18th meeting of the U.S.–China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in Beijing on December 11, 2007.
by Rebecca Karnak
Senior U.S. and Chinese trade officials agreed this past December on steps to increase market access in China, to improve product safety, to ensure an open investment environment, and to create other opportunities for U.S. businesses. At the one-day meeting of the 18th U.S.–China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Beijing, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez noted, “ We can use this 18th JCCT … to give the world confidence that we are both committed to openness … and that we can give the world confidence that openness works. That openness creates jobs. That openness creates prosperity.”
The U.S. delegation to the JCCT was cochaired by Gutierrez and U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab. Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi led the Chinese delegation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also participated in the meeting.
Increasing Market Access
One important outcome of the JCCT meeting was China’s agreement to take tangible steps that will increase market access for U.S. suppliers and will improve the overall climate for U.S. companies doing business in China. Those steps include the following:
• Addressing loopholes in its regulation of bulk chemicals, which can be used as active pharmaceutical ingredients and are sometimes found to be the underlying source of many counterfeit drugs
• Eliminating any remaining redundancies in China’s testing and certification requirements for imported medical devices and suspending a regulation that would have created additional testing and inspection redundancies for imported medical devices
• Opening the door for Chinese group leisure travel to the United States, which will ensure that U.S. companies can work with Chinese travel agencies to market tours and that U.S. destinations can market themselves freely in China and attract Chinese tourists
• Strengthening the enforcement of laws against company name misuse, which occurs when some Chinese companies register legitimate U.S. trademarks and trade names without legal authority to do so
• Improving conditions so that certain U.S. agricultural products can be sold in China
Improving Product Safety
The United States and China concluded two memoranda of agreement to secure the safety of certain medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food products, and animal feed exported from China to the United States. Those agreements will expand technical assistance and coordination between the two governments on safety issues for certain products.
Ensuring an Open and Non-discriminatory Investment Regime
During the JCCT meeting, China gave a strong statement that reiterated its commitment to open investment and competition policies and to the principle of non-discrimination in investment regulation. The two sides agreed to undertake investment-related discussions that will address specific U.S. concerns about China’s implementation of its antimonopoly law and its regulations regarding mergers and acquisitions.
Creating Opportunities for U.S. Businesses
U.S. industry will also benefit from several other agreements that were signed during the JCCT meeting. One was a memorandum of understanding to increase Chinese tourist travel to the United States and to facilitate the marketing in China of U.S. travel destinations.
Another was a memorandum of understanding to deepen a partnership first established in 2005 between the Commerce Department and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The agreement allows U.S. exports to enter 14 “second-tier” cities in China. Those cities, similar to the larger urban centers, are home to China’s burgeoning middle class.
A third agreement was signed that established guidelines for U.S.–China high-technology and strategic trade development. The guidelines outline the importance of working cooperatively to achieve the mutual benefits of promoting safe and secure civilian U.S. high-technology exports to China.
In addition to those agreements, the two countries also signed a memorandum of cooperation to launch the Environmental Industries Forum. The forum will facilitate U.S. trade to China’s environmental industries market, which, since 2000, has grown 235 percent, to $19 billion.
Innovation, Intellectual Property Rights Issues Highlighted
Before the JCCT meeting, Gutierrez gave the keynote address at the China–U.S. Innovation Conference on December 10 in Beijing. In his speech, he stressed the importance of intellectual property rights and transparency in creating an environment for innovation to flourish. He also delivered a similar message at the third Strategic Economic Dialogue, which was held in Beijing on December 12–13.
Rebecca Karnak is an international trade specialist in the Market Access and Compliance unit of the International Trade Administration.
For More Information
Started in 1983, the JCCT is a high-level government-to-government dialogue that seeks to address market access issues and to provide a forum to discuss trade and investment matters.
A fact sheet on the outcomes of the December meeting, along with transcripts of remarks by the secretary of commerce, are available on the Web site of the Department of Commerce. (http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/index.htm?ssMonth=12&ssYear=2007)
10. FACILITATING BUSINESS TRAVEL CRUCIAL TO U.S. INVESTMENT (International Trade Administration)
A paper recently published by the Department of Commerce’s Invest in America initiative shows how U.S. policy on visas and travel mobility in general affects the ability to attract foreign direct investment to the United States.
by Aaron Brickman
Foreign investors view the ease with which they can travel to the United States as a key indicator of how easy it will be to make or administer an investment. Under the State Department’s Visa Waiver Program, many nationals from countries with the largest inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United States do not require a visa.
But some recent trends—including widespread misperceptions about the difficulty of obtaining a visa, a significant drop in the number of visas issued during the past five years, and the adoption after 2001 of a variety of new statutory and regulatory requirements for foreign nationals seeking visas for entry into the United States—make it clear that the visa process for legitimate business visits needs to improve.
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez released a policy paper on that topic, titled “ Visas and Foreign Direct Investment: Supporting U.S. Competitiveness by Facilitating International Travel,” at the annual meeting of the Organization for International Investment held in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 2007. The paper details a number of specific steps that can be taken to improve the visa and travel facilitation process.
Visas and FDI
An important aspect of visa and travel facilitation is the effect on jobs created from FDI. This FDI dimension of business travel and mobility emerged in connection with President George W. Bush’s “open economies” statement on May 10, 2007. The statement noted the fundamental importance of international investment to the U.S. economy. The timely availability of visas is, in fact, a topic that is always front and center whenever FDI issues are discussed.
Role of FDI in U.S. Economy
FDI plays a major role in the U.S. economy as a key driver of the economy and as an important source of innovation, exports, and jobs. Foreign firms employ more than 5.0 million U.S. workers through their U.S. affiliates, and they create more than 4.5 million indirect jobs. In addition, foreign firms account for 10 percent of U.S. capital investment, 15 percent of annual research and development in the United States, and almost 20 percent of U.S. exports.
Because the U.S. share of global FDI inflows has declined since the late 1990s and because global competition to attract FDI has grown more intense, the United States must strive to maintain its ability to attract FDI. In 2007, the Commerce Department launched the Invest in America initiative to address concerns by the international investment community and to promote FDI flows into the United States.
Debunking Myths about Visas
The recent Commerce Department policy paper states that the presence or perception of delays in obtaining the necessary visas can give international investors the impression that it may be difficult to finalize or oversee an investment in the United States. Such myths and misperceptions regarding the difficulty of the U.S. visa process must be promptly debunked to prevent an inaccurate assessment of the U.S. system.
For example, people from countries such as Brazil, China, and India believe that it is extremely difficult to obtain a visa to the United States. However, the majority of visa applicants in those countries do receive visas. In 2006, more than 1.1 million non-immigrant visas were issued for those three countries alone—almost 19 percent of all non-immigrant visas issued worldwide in that year.
Other Areas of Focus
In addition to addressing common misperceptions about business travel to the United States, the paper makes suggestions regarding other areas where additional attention is needed. Those areas include the following:
• Focus on international investment. Efforts to address specific visa-related concerns associated with FDI need to be encouraged. The international investment community has indicated that it would support developing a non-immigrant investor visa within the State Department’s “E” category, which is already available to international investors outside the bilateral treaty process.
• Expand registered business traveler facilitation programs. U.S. embassies should continue to promote business visa facilitation programs and to draw from the models of successful efforts, such as the Business Visa Facilitation Program that has been implemented by the U.S. embassy in Beijing with the cooperation of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
• Strengthen public information efforts. There is an ongoing need to correct misperceptions about visas and U.S. openness to FDI. It is important to target business travelers, through consular officers who meet with travelers and speak at business events, to dispel myths and to encourage early visa applications that allow sufficient processing time.
• Expand the use of new technology. The use of Internet-based and other new technologies should be expanded where appropriate. Internet-based programs should continue to move toward a comprehensive e-commerce model that allows appointments, applications, and payments to be made entirely online.
• Establish clear performance standards. Clear and meaningful productivity measures for immigration, visa, and admission processes should be established. Those standards can provide numbers against which the effectiveness of the visa application system can be measured and performance improvements sought.
The human capital that is attracted to the United States brings many benefits to the economy. The steps recommended by the Commerce Department clearly point the way toward how to best balance the concerns of security and commerce in the visa process. 11. 2008 INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM (National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship, NDE)
Earlier this month, the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal released the latest edition of their annual global index of economic freedom. The Index assesses how 162 countries perform on ten different measures of economic freedom. These measures track areas such freedom from corruption, the ability of entrepreneurs to start new firms, open trade regimes, strong property rights, and equitable tax rates. The Index finds that nations with high levels of economic freedom also have higher levels of prosperity (measured in GDP per capita) and higher growth rates. However, very few countries can be classified as “free” economies. In fact, only seven countries are included in this category. The vast majority of nations operate with “moderately free” or “mostly unfree” economies. The top performers in the 2008 Index are (in rank order): Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Australia, the US, New Zealand, and Canada.
The Index is supported by chapters on: economic fluidity from Carl Schramm of the Kauffman Foundation; narrowing the global economic gap by Stephen L. Parente of the University of Illinois; and, globalization by French economist and author Guy Sorman.
Access the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013FuA6pc6tn7mHK3a2F12XqQpMa-OcnX7X-p8N7oadDXEJOfAi8YNaJFDT1ZbJQmJOjyNgZGYCu361hAA5Sakd_CJCBjkEHnOCIP8tQo07n8Xxee4ezQOPgEGskEFDMlYk0F05ggeGO00-J7IPmHVhbt6_S6vdDRqBC2rcwo3muQ=) , from the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal.
12. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (NDE)
Many of the world’s movers and shakers converged in Davos, Switzerland last week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. This year’s theme is “The Power of Collaborative Innovation.” Big name presenters at this year’s meetings include former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, James Dimon of JP Morgan Chase, Indra Nooyi of Pepsico, and News Corporation’s Rupert Murdoch. The World Economic Forum also releases a number of interesting publications to coincide with the annual meeting. For example, the Global Risks 2008 survey of business leaders finds the highest levels of political and economic uncertainty in over a decade. Meanwhile, a report from the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum maps out expectations for what the world will look like in 2030. Key findings identified include:
• 88% believe China will be the world’s leading nation in 2030. • 59% identify global warming as the world’s most pressing issue in 2030. • 86% believe corporations and individuals will gain power vis-à-vis nation states by 2030.
Learn more about the 2008 World Economic Forum and to access related publications, visit www.weforum.org. 13. MOTIVATED BY A TAX, IRISH SPURN PLASTIC BAGS (New York Times)
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
DUBLIN — There is something missing from this otherwise typical bustling cityscape. There are taxis and buses. There are hip bars and pollution. Every other person is talking into a cellphone. But there are no plastic shopping bags, the ubiquitous symbol of urban life.
In 2002, Ireland (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/ireland/index.html?inline=nyt-geo) passed a tax on plastic bags; customers who want them must now pay 33 cents per bag at the register. There was an advertising awareness campaign. And then something happened that was bigger than the sum of these parts.
Within weeks, plastic bag use dropped 94 percent. Within a year, nearly everyone had bought reusable cloth bags, keeping them in offices and in the backs of cars. Plastic bags were not outlawed, but carrying them became socially unacceptable — on a par with wearing a fur coat or not cleaning up after one’s dog.
“When my roommate brings one in the flat it annoys the hell out of me,” said Edel Egan, a photographer, carrying groceries last week in a red backpack.
Drowning in a sea of plastic bags, countries from China to Australia, cities from San Francisco to New York have in the past year adopted a flurry of laws and regulations to address the problem, so far with mixed success. The New York City Council, for example, in the face of stiff resistance from business interests, passed a measure requiring only that stores that hand out plastic bags take them back for recycling.
But in the parking lot of a Superquinn Market, Ireland’s largest grocery chain, it is clear that the country is well into the post-plastic-bag era. “I used to get half a dozen with every shop. Now I’d never ever buy one,” said Cathal McKeown, 40, a civil servant carrying two large black cloth bags bearing the bright green Superquinn motto. “If I forgot these, I’d just take the cart of groceries and put them loose in the boot of the car, rather than buy a bag.”
Gerry McCartney, 50, a data processor, has also switched to cloth. “The tax is not so much, but it completely changed a very bad habit,” he said. “Now you never see plastic.”
In January almost 42 billion plastic bags were used worldwide, according to http://www.reusablebags.com; the figure increases by more than half a million bags every minute. A vast majority are not reused, ending up as waste — in landfills or as litter. Because plastic bags are light and compressible, they constitute only 2 percent of landfill, but since most are not biodegradable, they will remain there.
In a few countries, including Germany, grocers have long charged a nominal fee for plastic bags, and cloth carrier bags are common. But they are the exception.
In the past few months, several countries have announced plans to eliminate the bags. Bangladesh and some African nations have sought to ban them because they clog fragile sewerage systems, creating a health hazard. Starting this summer, China will prohibit sellers from handing out free plastic shopping bags, but the price they should charge is not specified, and there is little capacity for enforcement. Australia says it wants to end free plastic bags by the end of the year, but has not decided how.
Efforts to tax plastic bags have failed in many places because of heated opposition from manufacturers as well as from merchants, who have said a tax would be bad for business. In Britain, Los Angeles and San Francisco, proposed taxes failed to gain political approval, though San Francisco passed a ban last year. Some countries, like Italy, have settled for voluntary participation.
But there were no plastic bag makers in Ireland (most bags here came from China), and a forceful environment minister gave reluctant shopkeepers little wiggle room, making it illegal for them to pay for the bags on behalf of customers. The government collects the tax, which finances environmental enforcement and cleanup programs.
Furthermore, the environment minister told shopkeepers that if they changed from plastic to paper, he would tax those bags, too.
While paper bags, which degrade, are in some ways better for the environment, studies suggest that more greenhouse gases are released in their manufacture and transportation than in the production of plastic bags.
Today, Ireland’s retailers are great promoters of taxing the bags. “I spent many months arguing against this tax with the minister; I thought customers wouldn’t accept it,” said Senator Feargal Quinn, founder of the Superquinn chain. “But I have become a big, big enthusiast.”
Mr. Quinn is also president of Euro Commerce (http://www.eurocommerce.be/) , a group representing six million European retailers. In that capacity, he has encouraged a plastic bag tax in other countries. But members are not buying it. “They say: ‘Oh, no, no. It wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t be acceptable in our country,’ ” Mr. Quinn said.
As nations fail to act decisively, some environmentally conscious chains have moved in with their own policies. Whole Foods Market (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/whole_foods_market_inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org) announced in January that its stores would no longer offer disposable plastic bags, using recycled paper or cloth instead, and many chains are starting to charge customers for plastic bags.
But such ad hoc efforts are unlikely to have the impact of a national tax. Mr. Quinn said that when his Superquinn stores tried a decade ago to charge 1 cent for plastic bags, customers rebelled. He found himself standing at the cash register buying bags for customers with change from his own pocket to prevent them from going elsewhere.
After five years of the plastic bag tax, Ireland has changed the image of cloth bags, a feat advocates hope to achieve in the United States. Vincent Cobb, the president of reusablebags.com, who founded the company four years ago to promote the issue, said: “Using cloth bags has been seen as an extreme act of a crazed environmentalist. We want it to be seen as something a smart, progressive person would carry.”
Some things worked to Ireland’s advantage. Almost all markets are part of chains that are highly computerized, with cash registers that already collect a national sales tax, so adding the bag tax involved a minimum of reprogramming, and there was little room for evasion.
The country also has a young, flexible population that has proved to be a good testing ground for innovation, from cellphone services to nonsmoking laws. Despite these favorable conditions, Ireland still ended up raising the bag tax 50 percent, after officials noted that consumption was rising slightly.
Ireland has moved on with the tax concept, proposing similar taxes on customers for A.T.M. receipts and chewing gum. (The sidewalks of Dublin are dotted with old wads.) The gum tax has been avoided for the time being because the chewing gum giant Wrigley agreed to create a public cleanup fund as an alternative. This year, the government plans to ban conventional light bulbs, making only low-energy, long-life fluorescent bulbs available.
14. HOT OPPORTUNITY: THE OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS (CANADA)
* BID: Licensee(s) for Winter Sporting Equipmnet:
* BID: Licensee(s) for Housewares
* Do you have products you would like to License to the Olympics (CANADA)?
http://www.2010commercecentre.com/default.aspx?content=OPPORTUNITIES&page=Products_to_license
* Interested in becoming a subcontractor to a winning supplier?
http://www.2010commercecentre.com/default.aspx?content=OPPORTUNITIES&page=Becoming_a_subcontractor
* Interested in becoming an Olympic supplier?
15. FITA’S FEATURED COUNTRY: MEXICO
Mexico's economy recently entered the trillion dollar club, and the country is modernizing its economy rapidly. Mexico has signed free trade agreements with over 40 nations, and last year was in the top 20 countries worldwide for both imports and exports. If this sounds like a place you want to research further, a good site to visit is MEXonline.com (http://www.mexonline.com ). This is a portal to all sorts of information about Mexico. Click on one of the categories in the left column and you'll find: news, restaurant reviews, cultural information (holidays, festivals & events, sports, etc.), business guides, real estate listings (residential & commercial), maps, hotel & resort directories, message boards, travel tips, trade directories, and much more.
You'll also find plenty of good research at the Mexico Mini Portal (http://fita.org/countries/mexico.html ), a feature of the FITA Web site. The Mexico Mini Portal has an overview of the country, with facts about the language, currency, climate, etc., plus more specific information about the economy, markets, taxes, labor market indicators, and tips on doing business in Mexico.
Click on "Useful Links" and you'll find a variety of sources for market research, trade leads, business directories, logistics, government contacts, travel, financing, and lots more.
The Mexico Mini Portal is one of many research gateways at the FITA site. To find Mini Portals for other regions or countries, just click on "Country Profiles" from within a Mini Portal, or at the FITA home page ( http://www.fita.org ).
FITA's Global Trade Book Store (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179987) has some excellent books about doing business in Japan. Check out Doing Business in Mexico: A Practical Guide (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179983), Doing Business And Investing in Mexico (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179995) and Mexico - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6180009).
The following associations are FITA member associations. Their sites offer more resources about doing business with Mexico:
* United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6180004) * California-Mexico Trade Assistance Center (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179985) * American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179985)
And click here (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179992) search the FITA Member Directory (http://newsletters.fita.org/ct.jsp?uz2475013Biz6179992) links to FITA member associations' websites. 16. BETTER PROSPECTS THROUGH THE CANADA-BRAZIL TRADE PORTAL (FITA NEWSLETTER)
Information about trade with Brazil
Brazil and Canada are among the world's largest economies, and they just launched a site, the Canada-Brazil Trade Portal ( http://www.brazcan.org ), which you should bookmark if you want information about doing business with either country. There are lots of links to government-sponsored trade promotion programs for businesses in Canada and Brazil, but there's plenty of good information even if you're not from those countries. You'll find links to company directories, buyer's guides, government agencies, trade show calendars, market research, trade laws, customs brokers, demographics, statistics, industry associations, and lots more.