Hong Kong's Export Outlook 2014

iStock/Thinkstock

With the challenging global economic outlook, Hong Kong’s exports are now not expected to grow by as much as initially predicted.

While the mild recovery of the European Union and Japan has more or less stayed on track, growth in the United States and China lost a degree of momentum in the early part of the year. This despite the fact the US economy is now showing signs of rallying, while China’s authorities are likely to provide policy support to ensure sustainable development in the near future. 

The upshot?  Hong Kong’s exports are forecast to grow by 4.5 percent in 2014, as opposed to the previously more optimistic figure of 5.5 percent.

Read the entire extensive report:  Hong Kong's export outlook: underlying optimism, despite temporary shortfall

Tune In: It's National Small Business Week 5/12-5/16

iStock/Thinkstock

With the United States having more than 28 million small businesses, it's easy to understand how and why we honor these hard-working individuals who create jobs, spur economic growth and develop innovative measures to improve our world.  That said, there will be lots of excitement, conversations and celebrations around this important week - from SBA to the White House to well ... all the companies who salute the crucial role that small businesses play in our lives.  The national celebrations will be held in four major venues: San Francisco, May 12; Kansas City, May 13; Boston, May 15; and Washington, D.C., May 15-16.

Check out some of the activities and conversations below.

•  The White House Blog
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/05/12/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  Statement by the President of the United States on National Small Business Week:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/12/statement-president-national-small-business-week

•  SBA.gov
http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/official-sba-news-and-views/open-business/national-small-business-week-starts-today

•  National Small Business Week site:
http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/

•  National Small Business Week 2014 - A Celebration of the Accomplishments of Small Business - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
https://www.uschamber.com/blog/national-small-business-week-2014-celebration-accomplishments-small-business

•  Small Business Week - National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
http://www.nfib.com/small-business-week/

•  Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
http://www.sbecouncil.org/2014/05/12/small-business-week-2014-needs-to-spark-bipartisanship-to-help-entrepreneurs-says-small-business-advocate/

Let's continue to support and celebrate small businesses every day!

Guess Who's No. 1 in the World On Entrepreneurship?

iStock/Thinkstock

No drum roll needed on this one.  The United States is the most entrepreneurial economy in the world, according to the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI).

The Global Entrepreneurship & Development Index was created to provide a more complete understanding of economic development by capturing the contextual nature of business formation, expansion, and growth.  It is based on analysis of comprehensive data sets from more than 120 countries that marshal information about the “3A’s” of development: entrepreneurial attitudes, aspirations, and activity.

Here's a look at the top 10, including scores:

No. 1:   United States - 82.5
No. 2:   Canada - 81.7
No. 3:   Australia - 77.9
No. 4:   Sweden - 73.7
No. 5:   Denmark - 72.5
No. 6:   Switzerland - 70.9
No. 7:   Taiwan - 69.5
No. 8:   Finland - 69.3
No. 9:   Netherlands - 69.0
No. 10: United Kingdom  - 68.6

Read more at:  GEDI Index | Global Entrepreneurship Development Institute

Happy Chinese New Year 2014 of the Horse

iStock/Thinkstock

May your Chinese New Year of the Horse (2014) be happy, healthy and prosperous!

Seven Trends Supporting Global Small Businesses

Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock

The benefits to going global are unlimited.  With it, though, come some challenges such as how to go mobile, reach out to the world via social media and outsource to online vendors and contractors?  Fortunately, I address all of these issues and many more in my new book, Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably coming out by Apress December 18, 2013!  Meanwhile, read:

7 Tech Trends Supporting Small Business Globalization in 2014