Agricultural Trade Is All About Opportunities

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that new growth opportunities for agriculture lie in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Overall, there were 30 markets where U.S. exports exceeded $1 billion in 2022 – an increase from 27 markets in 2021 – demonstrating the broad global appeal of American-grown products.

The American agricultural sector posted its best export year ever in 2022 with international sales of U.S. farm and food products reaching $196 billion.

Read more about how 2022 was another record year for U.S. farm exports.  Agricultural trade is all about opportunities.

Facilitating Global Trade, Especially Small Business Exports

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The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has signed the Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the International Trade & Forfaiting Association (ITFA). The two organizations will work to educate exporters and lenders on financing methods and risk mitigation solutions necessary to facilitate global trade.

ITFA is a global trade association representing the interests of banks, financial institutions, and service providers involved in trade risk and asset origination and distribution, formalizing the SBA’s existing relationship with the association.

To learn more, visit here.

Importing From and Exporting To China

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Sure many companies are pursuing alternative sources of supply – Vietnam, India and Malaysia, for example.  Yet for those who are new to importing from and exporting to China, Freightos provides some sound advice – the A to Z on working with China.  What you need to know and then some.

Check it out.

Top Global Cities for Business Opportunities

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Each of the cities listed below in the top global business cities has its strengths and weaknesses, but each of them is well suited for nurturing international capital and talent.

It boils down to this:  Everything that allows investors, businessmen and businesswomen around the world to use up-to-date market information and to some extent predict business development makes a global business city or a best city to do business in.

1. Hong Kong
2. London
3. Paris
4. Frankfurt
5. The Netherlands
6. Tokyo
7. Singapore
8. Oslo
9. New York
10. Berlin
11. Dubai
12. Toronto
13. Mumbai 

Read more about how to start your global business in a best city worldwide.

Today in Global Small Business: Pride 2023

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Pride Chicago.
• Pride New York.
• Pride San Francisco.
• Quote of the week:  "I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, 'Me, too.'" – Jason Collins
• Pride France.
• Pride around the world.

All Forms of Discrimination Are Equivalent To

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing: anti-humanism.” —Shirley Chisholm

AI Generated Rock Music: On the Edge

How Can Global Businesses Best Account for Local Conditions As They Grow?

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Harvard Business School assistant professor Alexander MacKay studied Uber’s strategies as it entered new markets around the world. He wanted to understand how global businesses can scale fast and survive for the long run.

Tune in here for a conversation he had on Cold Call with Brian Kenny. Or read the transcript here.

Free Access to Global Trade Data

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The United Nations Comtrade database aggregates detailed global annual and monthly trade statistics by product and trading partner for use by governments, academia, research institutes, and enterprises. 

Data compiled by the United Nations Statistics Division covers approximately 200 countries and represents more than 99% of the world's merchandise trade. Information can be extracted in a variety of formats, including API developer tools for integration into enterprise applications and workflows. 

Paid subscribers receive access to additional functionality to improve efficiency and specificity.

National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report 2023 on Foreign Trade Barriers

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The National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report 2023 on Foreign Trade Barriers covers significant barriers, whether they are consistent or inconsistent with international trading rules.  The NTE Report also discusses key export markets for the United States, covering 60 countries; the European Union; Taiwan; Hong Kong, China; and, the Arab League. Omission of particular countries and barriers does not imply that they are not of concern to the United States.

How do you define trade barriers?

Trade barriers elude fixed definitions, but may be broadly defined as government laws and regulations or government-imposed measures, policies, and practices that restrict, prevent, or impede the international exchange of goods and services; protect domestic goods and services from foreign competition; artificially stimulate exports of particular domestic goods and services; fail to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights; unduly hamper U.S. foreign direct investment or U.S. electronic commerce; or impose barriers to cross-border data flows.

Read the entire report here.

Today in Global Small Business: Have a Proud Juneteenth

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.  Have a happy and proud one.
• As the nation celebrates Juneteenth, it’s time to get rid of these three myths about slavery.
• The complicated history of Juneteenth.
• Quote of the week:  “"Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do." – Barack Obama
• When did slavery end?  The answer is elusive.
• Juneteenth became a federal holiday two years ago. What does the day commemorate?

Love Knows Not Its Own Depth

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“…love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” – Kabil Gibran

E-Commerce SMBs Go Global

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Just by clicking buttons, thousands of small businesses are daring to go global with their wares through e-commerce and this has all been brought on by the pandemic.

According to the ‘Amazon Seller Report 2022’ by Payoneer a FinTech company and SellerApp, the year 2022, approximately 63% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are present on global marketplaces, contributing to nearly 60% of their overall retail sales. 

Learn why e-commerce SMBs are going global, while the US, UK and Middle East are getting even hotter. 

In addition to AI, Five Key Trends That Will Change How You Invest and Lead Your Global Business

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Barron's put together a package to spur investors to ponder how changes under way today may cause dominoes to topple years from now, creating new winners and losers across the investing landscape. 

They asked five investing pros to share their top stock picks; they asked Barron’s Roundtable member David Giroux of T. Rowe Price for his top transformative trends; and they laid out how to find a good thematic fund. 

What's more important and related to this blog, is they also explore five key trends that will upend economies and companies.  

It's not just AI.  Important to read.

Reduce Global Business Expenses: Hire Abroad

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As a global business owner, it’s imperative to always look for practical ways to improve your business, especially when it comes to saving money. One practice to reduce business expenses is hiring abroad. This is a method that many businesses, both small and large, can use to hire talented employees while saving money on payroll. 

Learn more about reasons to hire abroad, the rise of remote workers, and the removal of barriers using International PEOs.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs (In-Person Chicago Event 6/20/23)

© 2023 EXIM Bank.  All rights reserved.

While women-owned businesses have grown, there are specific issues women entrepreneurs still face.

Join the Illinois District Export Council in partnership with First Women’s Bank, Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global, Koval Distillery and The Export-Import Bank of the United States on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 3 PM CST for a panel discussion and networking session.

Discussion points:

• How to navigate the challenges of equity distribution and obtaining financing.
• Understand the critical role community banks provide
• Discover how a mission-driven bank is different than other banks.
• Learn from other women entrepreneurs who have utilized other resources to help grow their businesses.

There will be a networking session for all attendees following the panel session. We hope you will join us on June 20th at 3 PM CST.

I [Laurel Delaney] will be moderating one of the panel discussions. Look forward to seeing you in person.

To learn more and to register, visit here.

Today in Global Small Business: How to Start an Import-Export Business

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How to start an import-export business.
• Alternative data transforming SME finance.
• How to move the needle on innovation.
• Quote of the week:  “Thanks to the Internet, setting up an import/export business can be ridiculously simple and very profitable.” – Laurel J. Delaney, President, GlobeTrade.com
• UpLink is the innovation platform for people and planet.
• Sustainability and energy innovation.

Love Is the Flower

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow." – John Lennon

Making Events More Affordable for Global SMEs

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SMEs are keen to get back to attending in-person business events after Covid, but it’s often an expensive exercise. What can organizers and attendees do to bring down the barriers to entry? 

According to a survey by American Express Global Business Travel, SMEs are planning more meetings and events than any other kind of firm, with 65% budgeting to spend more on such activities this year compared with 2022.  

As one event planner put it:  "My advice to planners is to review why events are on and how you can reduce the number of events hosted, while creating more experiential, unique events that maximize participation"

Learn more about how to maximize participation at events, use machine learning to streamline events, and offer assistance to global SMEs.

Global Business That Operates On a Local Scale

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The Coca-Cola Company claims they are a global business that operates on a local scale, in every community where they do business.

How do they do it?  

We are able to create global reach with a local focus because of the strength of the Coca‑Cola supply chain, which comprises our company and our bottling partners worldwide.

Learn more about The Coca-Cola System.

Women Are Breaking Barriers in Global Entrepreneurship

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Women leaders are making their mark on the global stage, breaking barriers and transforming global entrepreneurship.  Why just take a look at all the successful global women entrepreneurs highlighted at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®! 

As gender equality gains momentum, global women leaders are dismantling stereotypes, reshaping industries, and forging new paths to success. 

Over the years, the entrepreneurship landscape has been predominantly dominated by men, with women facing numerous obstacles and biases. However, a new wave of visionary women leaders is challenging the status quo, leaving an indelible impact on both local and global economies. 

From founding disruptive startups to leading multinational corporations, these trailblazers are proving that gender is no impediment to success. Their journeys have exemplified resilience, authenticity, and a commitment to using their influence for positive change.

Lindsey Laurain Talks About the Ups and Downs of (Global) Entrepreneurship in a wegginar® 6/7/23

©2023 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

wegginar® presenter Lindsey Laurain is the founder of ezpz, creator of innovative, safe, developmentally appropriate feeding gear for little ones.  She will be discussing how to:

• Start your business from scratch
• Develop your team
• Overcome challenges
• Build a culture of innovation

To learn more and to register, visit:  https://bit.ly/422NsMj (free of charge thanks to sponsors Associated Bank, FedEx, bluedog, Global Care Clinical Trials and 1706 Advisors).

Today in Global Small Business: How Small Companies Can Reach Global Audiences

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How small companies can reach global audiences.
• Small business report 2022 from eBay.
• World Trade Center Utah is helping small businesses go global.
• Quote of the week:  “Every problem is a gift — without problems we would not grow.” – Anthony Robbins
• Where are small businesses flourishing globally?  Find out.
• SMBs are going global.  Wonder why?

Eat Dessert First

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Absolutely eat dessert first. The thing that you want to do the most, do that." – Joss Whedon

Could Protectionism Make the World Less Resilient, More Unequal, and More Conflict-Prone?

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There is no strong evidence of a retreat from globalization, but international trade and the multilateral system that underpinned it are under attack, and their future depends on policy choices.

Today, there is still no conclusive evidence that international trade is deglobalizing. When measured in US dollars, global trade growth slowed after the global financial crisis in 2008–09 and declined sharply at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. But since then trade has rebounded to the highest value ever.

Read on to see how there are some growing threats to global trade.

Tools That Can Make Your Writing Easier

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Different writing projects call for different tools.  Below I [Laurel Delaney] have gathered 8 writing tools that can take you from brainstorming to final editing on any project you are working on.

See which of the following belongs in your writing toolkit – maybe it’s all of these. 

8 Tools That Can Make Your Writing Easier