Merry Christmas Around the World!

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"May your Christmas be filled with good cheer, family, love and good health!" -- Hugs from your friends at the Global Small Business Blog

Healthy Appetite for E-Commerce in the APAC Region

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According to a recent study released by PayPal and Ipsos, there is a healthy appetite for e-commerce in APAC (Asia-Pacific region), with 48 percent of consumers shopping cross-border in the last 12 months.

Ipsos recently released the 2018 PayPal Cross-Border Consumer Research, which investigates the online shopping habits of approximately 34,000 consumers in 31 countries [1]— including the Philippines. It reveals a growing cross-border e-commerce scene, with the US and China being the biggest markets in terms of online spend.

The study highlights three key findings:

1. Cross-border opportunities abound for Filipino merchants
2. Cosmetics are on the rise for APAC consumers
3. Security is a key driver of cross-border trade

Read more about how cross-border trade accelerates expansion opportunities for Filipino SMEs.

Access full report here.

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Davos 2018: Put Women First

Women are a driving force in our global economy.  Learn more about what's happening at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018.  For example, here are 7 things that happened on the first day at Davos (Switzerland) 2018.

Global Growth Will be Strong in 2018

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According to The World Bank, global growth is expected to edge up to 3.1 percent in 2018.  Global trade has gained momentum, especially in global manufacturing and investment, which is in recovery mode.  Global trade accelerated substantially, supporting export growth in most emerging market and developing economy regions.

Read more about why 2018 global growth will be strong, and why there is still cause for concern, in 10 charts.

Download (automatic) the January 2018 Global Economic Prospects report.

From the Global Small Business Blog: The Countdown Begins

Make the world your business in 2018.

See What's Poppin' from Laurel Delaney on Global Trade Trends to Watch in 2018

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Passengers on the newly revamped Carnival Regal Princess won’t be greeted by fancy new restaurants, glorious swimming pools or the usual activities — but will instead walk around a deck, app in hand, as options for entertainment shift based on where they stand, says Laurel Delaney.

Welcome to the future on how things get done. This, along with a handful of other game-changing technology advancements, are white hot global trade trends that will influence global trade activities and business in general.

Take a look at areas where you need to jump into to capitalize on your business opportunities.  Here are 7 global trade trends to watch in 2018.