GLOBAL CHAMBER Global Chamber Events www.globalchamber.org
May 5, 2014 Arizona International Growth Group “Cinco de Global” Lyndon Smith, CEO of Gilbertbased Biohumanetics, shares tips to executives on growing globally. June 2, 2014 Global Chamber PHX “Global Chamber PHX” Executives share tips on global business success for companies based in Arizona. August 4, 2014 Global Chamber PHX “Summer Global Business Lunch” Featuring 3 speakers on global business and a wonderful international lunch. September 6, 2014 Global Chamber PHX “Grow Globally PHX” All of Metro Phoenix’s global resources, all in one place, once per year. Grow globally!
Spotlight Event May 1 – 2 , 2014 “VerdeXchange Arizona 2014” A collaborative regional and global conference on business, education, healthcare, technology, infrastructure, livability and sustainability to help business leaders tap into growth opportunities. www.vxarizona.com
Inside this section
2 If Not Now, When? Here’s How
also: Be Aware of Cultural Differences also: U.S. Commercial Service also: A World of Opportunity with Mexico also: Canada-Arizona by the (Growing) Numbers
4 To Grow Globally, Think Differently 5 ULaws nderstand Anti-Corruption in Global Business 6 How to Finance Exports and Reduce Risk 7 Thank You. Grow Globally
also: Doing Business in China: Easy and Difficult
MAY 2014 – AUGUST 2014
Catch Global Fever Doug Bruhnke, Founder of Global Chamber
It’s sometimes hard to pick up on this because bad news sells newspapers and drives clicks, but every year the world is getting better. Don’t believe me? Visit www.gapminder.org and see how, over the past 200 years, peoples’ wealth and health has improved dramatically. Annually, 50-100 million global citizens come out of poverty and average life expectancy continues to increase. With declining birth rates and longer lifespans, 50 percent of the world’s population will be over 50 years old in 30 years. More adult diapers are sold in Japan than diapers for children. Brookings forecasts that 92 percent of the world’s economic development in the next 10 years will happen outside the United States. With so much business opportunity happening over there, what are you still doing here? Less than 1 percent of U.S. companies export, and of those, most export to only one country, and most of those are either Mexico or Canada. Attracting foreign direct investment and export revenue is money that goes back into the local economy to improve education, build
Arizona’s Turning Point
infrastructure and invest in the future. Growing globally is our region’s next great opportunity to grow wealth. As an ex-New Yorker with German-Polish roots and a corporate guy who was an expat in Tokyo and Singapore, I’ve been in my global phase for many decades. I started Arizona International Growth Group (AZIGG) six years ago to be a collaborative, learning place to connect with others having global fever. Now global business is more important than ever. I hope you’ll take the chance to read through this section and learn more about AZIGG, the new Global Chamber and these strategically important opportunities.
Arizona has the 14th largest state population, and, as the 12th-ranked state for tourism, we’re above average. Yet we’re below average in exporting (ranked 18th) and foreign direct investment (27th). Brookings reports that in 2012, Metro Phoenix had $2.2 billion of exports with 4.4 million people, while Metro Salt Lake had over 50 percent more exports with one-fourth the population. With their export intensity, Metro Phoenix would add over 100,000 jobs. In addition Salt Lake’s export growth is ranked No. 1 among the top 100 Metros since 2003, and Metro Phoenix is ranked No. 96. I was a businessperson in Salt Lake City through the 2002 Olympics, and it was extraordinary to be part of a business and government collaborative effort to welcome the world and attract new foreign investment and businesses. Subsequent globalization efforts there have included converting elementary schools into immersion language training centers to improve inherent international capabilities. Salt Lake 2002 was a turning point for global business success. What will be ours? GlobalChamber.org
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