December news

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Welcome to the December 2011 edition of The Magnifying Glass. I hope you enjoy the articles and information within each monthly review. Your feedback is appreciated and if you have a question or interest in an industry, country, or other area, please let me know.

I wish to thank all who have supported All Clear Translation! My wish and prayer for each of you in 2012:

May today there be peace within.


May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.


May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.


Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Very Prosperous New Year!
_______________________________________

Opportunities to Expand Globally with the Korean Free Trade Agreement

November 29th I attended a “Korea-Pittsburgh Evening” to promote the bilateral benefits of the Korea – U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), recently affirmed by the U.S. Congress, signed by President Obama and waiting passage in Seoul. Mr. Franco Harris, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Pittsburgh was introduced to the attendees as well.There were presentations highlighting the benefits of the trade pact, investment opportunities in Korea and the trade and investment environment in PA and the Pittsburgh region.

Here are some specifics about the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, provided by David DelFiandra of LeechTishman.

• Nearly 95% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products becomes duty-free within 3 years of entry.

• Most remaining tariffs will be eliminated in 10 years.

• South Korea is the 7th largest market for US exports

• Opening the Korean economy should lead to growth for US economy by $10 billion annually.

• Korea’s exports to the US should grow by 12% or $5.4 billion

Want to know more? Email me for the full alert from LeechTishman.

Interesting Fact: Demand in Asia for U.S. grain has created more business for inland shipping companies. Barge Builders are seeing increasing demand for new barges!
Interesting Fact: China has taken over Japan as the 2nd largest economy in the world.

Ready > Set> Succeed
New PA program offers matching funds to develop International Markets!
Global Access Program(GAP)
Visiting an international trade show in 2012 and need multilingual marketing materials? Looking to have your website translated? The PA Global Access Program is designed to help with matching funds up to $5,000 per year for qualifying PA companies. GAP will help small to mid-sized PA companies to increase export sales. This valuable tool assists with foreign market entry support. For more information on qualifying for the grant, contact your Regional Export Network (REN) partner.

The Pittsburgh Partner office is:
Southwestern PA Commission
425 Sixth Avenue
Suite 2500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852
Contact Jackie Pacheco
International Trade Specialist
(412) 391-5590 x332
jpacheco@spcregion.org


Newly appointed PA Manufacturing Advisory Council – Team PA
Governor Tom Corbett appointed the advisory council to address the decline in manufacturing in PA. Manufacturing jobs have fallen at twice the national rate in the last 10 years. In 2010 manufacturing jobs fell over 37% or 303,400 jobs lost. The 23-member group will also focus on talent and innovation, energy costs, efficiency, and research and development. Starting in January, they’ll meet regularly for about 6 months, after which they’ll issue a report and policy recommendations. No taxpayer dollars are being used to support the initiative! Visit www.TeamPA.comto learn more.

Don’t wait for their report for recommendations. Step up and increase your sales now!

Website translation. Low cost, high ROI!
FACTS:
• By adding one additional language, you can increase your sales by 40%
• When an Internet user is confronted by a website in their own language, they are 2 times as likely to stay and continue reading your site.
• People are 4 times more likely to buy from your site when in their native language.
• 40% of Internet users are not native English speakers
• Your competition is already multi-lingual, why give away sales?

Happy Holidays!
Linda

Solar Power Demand growing in India

Are you selling your products in India?


The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) approved $103.2 million in financing for two more solar transactions in India in the final months of fiscal year 2011. The approvals brought the total number of Indian solar projects that the Bank has financed in FY 2011 to six and the Bank’s total authorizations for these projects to $176.4 million. The recent increased demand for solar power in India is in part due to India’s national solar initiative, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, and its establishment of a clean energy fund valued at $223 million. "India is making a big push for renewable energy," Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg said. "Solar companies in the United States know that if they can get into this growing market, they have a bright future ahead of them. Ex-Im Bank stands ready to help our exporters win that future."

Read my latest newsletter for information on building business in Brazil, writing for translations and where you can find me. October newsletter

New Venturist » Thoughts on Portugal and entrepreneurship: trying to find their way out of the mess through new venture creation

Great insight into the culture of Portugal entrepreneurs.
New Venturist » Thoughts on Portugal and entrepreneurship: trying to find their way out of the mess through new venture creation

ARE YOU READY, Brazil is looking for you!

Recently, I was asked what is happening in Brazil? My team and I are working with several companies helping translate their English operating manuals, marketing materials and safety manuals into Portuguese for Brazil . Brazil is building its infrastructure, rebuilding and enlarging its airports, railroads, stadiums, and even hotels and golf courses are being built. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will host the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics and Paralympics 2016 in its amazing city.


Brazil is hoping to use the World Cup 2014 and Olympics and Paralympics2016 to showcase its country as an economic power. The construction of several stadiums, airport terminals and other event-related works are behind schedule! This is an opportunity for U.S. companies and businesses. Our technology and ability to help is being sought after by Brazilian companies.
 
One area we are seeing great growth is in São Paulo, the financial and business hub of Brazil, it is the biggest city in the country, with just over 11 million inhabitants. Located in the south-eastern region of the country, it is nicknamed Terra da Garoa (Land of the Drizzle) after its renowned weather instability and plentiful rainfall.


What does this mean to our manufacturing, engineering, construction industry in particular? This is where you will find your growth for the next several years! The double digit growth you wish to find is not here in the US but elsewhere. We are a global market, are you ready? The State of PA is offering matching fund grants to help you develop your website and marketing materials, the SBDC is hosting trips to Brazil to help match US companies with Brazilian buyers, the US Commercial Service will help host your trip and offer booth space for international Trade Shows. There is marketing help, research resources, and funding available. Some of the services to help you are mentioned but there are more like the Ex-Im bank. We can help you connect with some of the agencies to help grow your business. Unlock your potential by translating your marketing materials, user guides, and more. Brazil and beyond is your market, are YOU READY?

Matching Funds for website translation!

It is exciting to find support for our manufacturers to reach global markets. I am excited to work with several in Western PA. Now the state is supporting our efforts by offering matching grants.

Do you know someone looking to grow their business outside the US? Now is the time to translate your website. Contact me for more details.

An 'Economic Burden' Google Can No Longer Bear? - The Atlantic

An 'Economic Burden' Google Can No Longer Bear? - The Atlantic

News & Press Releases | SBA.gov

News & Press Releases | SBA.gov

National Export Initiative Seminar

Today, I attended the Manufacture America National Export Initiative (NEI) Med Tech Small and Medium Size Enterprises Seminar in Cleveland, Oh. Resources were on hand from the US Commercial Service, Northstar Trade Finance, SBA Export Solutions Group. Some points that were discussed are listed here:
• 1% of US companies export
• 12% of German companies export
• Most US exports are to only 1 country
• 83% of Global Growth will be outside of the US
• Small Manufacturing Enterprises make up 97% of the US Exports
• 95% of the world’s consumers liver outside the US
• Exports account for: US - 11% of GDP , China - 25% , Canada - 27% , Germany 41%

New Product from the ExIm Bank:
Express Insurance has been developed for qualified small business; it features a streamlined application and both a policy quotation and two foreign-buyer credit indications up to $300,000 within five business days. Find out more from your local Export Import Bank Representative.

The representatives there were willing to talk, share ideas and information and open their offices to anyone that would like help in gaining their international advantage. I learned much and am looking forward to working with my clients utilizing some of these resources.

Ambassador of India visits Pittsburgh

Ambassador of India, Meera Shankar is welcomed to Pittsburgh for a two day visit:

On April 28th I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with TiE of Pittsburgh where Ambassador Shankar was speaking. This intimate breakfast of about 60 people enabled me to find out more about the relations between India and the United States.

Ambassador Shankar also visited the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and spoke to an audience of many. India and the US share about 25.5 Million in trade and India looks forward to continuing our good relations. Indian businesses are interested in investing in American companies here helping growth in both countries. The main national priority for India is to achieve social economic transformation and is inclusive. The foreign policy should help create an environment that strengthens trade and technical collaboration. The global downturn has not affected India as much as other countries. Exports were getting constrained and growth dipped to 6.7% and now the Indian economic growth has jumped to 8% in 2009 and 8.6% in 2010. The target for India is to achieve an average growth of 9 to 9.5%.

Pittsburgh is home to a vibrant Indian community that has played a key role in the city’s development as a professional, high tech economy. According to recent statistics, there are 28 local companies with operations in India in the Pittsburgh region, 6 Indian-owned firms, and 10 of the 25 largest Pittsburgh area minority-owned companies are owned by individuals from India or of Indian ancestry.

The Ambassador’s visit is a valuable opportunity to highlight Pittsburgh’s growing role in the global economy. Since hosting the G20 in 2009, the world has been watching Pittsburgh. The city was recently ranked as a leading location for future international investment by fDi magazine, a publication of the London-based Financial Times. Pittsburgh was ranked first overall in the large cities
category in the fDi 2011/2012 American Cities of the Future. (cited from recent PR for World Affairs Council)

White House

I am honored to be invited to the White House Roundtable tomorrow in Pittsburgh. I hope we find these officials of the White House enacting change quickly. I will post about it Friday!

Look who is talking about All Clear!

Linda Handley of Building Bridges and I talked last week about the impact translations will make on revenues for manufacturers. She thought is significant enough to post on her website blog. Building Bridges is a non-profit started late 2010 to help small businesses learn of the many resources in the Pittsburgh region, PA state, and Federal that can help grow a company with marketing and business advice, workshops and counselors. Check them out! A seminar is happening on April 28th and over 160 have already registered. Click on the title to visit the blog at Building Bridges and learn more about this organization.
Cheers, Linda

Free Trade Agreement with Columbia

It is exciting to see the free trade agreement with Columbia happen. Our manufacturers now have easy access to export to Columbia. NAFTA has enabled easy shipping to Mexico and Canada thus becoming the two biggest areas of export for US Manufacturers. The free trade agreement with Columbia opens another country to us. Projections are at least $1 Billion in exports will be created from this agreement. I look forward to helping our manufacturers break into that market with multilingual websites, marketing materials and other documents. Why export - why would you say no to a sale, a new market, increased revenues! Do not ask should we export but how quickly can we export!

Have a great week and I will keep you updated on what is happening in our country and with All Clear Translations.

Linda

India as a Global Market

Those companies looking at hot markets need to look no further than India. With a growing middle class and per capita income this country is an opportunity waiting to happen. This will mean increased sales to US and European companies from Nabisco to Napa Valley Vintners.

For example, wine, once thought of as a "ladies" drink is being consumed much more. So much so that Napa Vintners win important protection in India. NVV Board President Bruce Cakebread, "This landmark protection is critical to our wineries as India is an important emerging market."

Oreo cookies are entering the market based on a 21% growth in filled cookie sales there and the Indian sweet tooth.

Export growth will not occur without localization. Indian consumers are emotional buyers of such goods and base purchases on religion, festivals, and regional preferences. The Indian consumer is diverse so we must localize regionally to win this savvy consumer. Simply put localization will clearly create growth, do your research and create a winning strategy, the ROI will be great!

All Clear Translations is in the news, read the article - click here

5 Key Reasons to Create Your Multilingual Site

5 Key Reasons to Offer Multilingual Websites
1. Up to 40% increase in sales revenues can be obtained with just one added language
2. Over 75% of web users browse in their native language only.
3. Your Client is already thinking about it or their competition is!
4. World’s Fastest Growing Markets are not in the US
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nigeria, South Africa
Based on projected growth, infrastructure investment of over $3 trillion (5years) Export Import Bank Strategic Plan 2010-15
5. Your Value has now risen by increasing your client’s revenues dramatically!

Example: ROI potential is HUGE (based on a manufacturer here in Pittsburgh) A $25 million company adds Spanish for Mexico to their website and sales increased over 30% to $32.5 M at a negligible cost. ($10,000 cost for the Spanish website)

5 Key Reasons to partner with All Clear Translations
1. Opportunity – uncover new markets and new business opportunities through Partnering with A.C.T.
2. Trend Setting - Your client stays in front of the trend for export growth by using our innovative service.
3. Expertise -You are the expert utilizing the A.C.T. team of Software, IT, Graphic, and Linguistic professionals.
4. Innovation – we have experts in language automation from CMU, Microsoft Gold Partners that are award winning in the field and various expert linguists that are matched with your client’s market needs.
5. Totality – with A.C.T. you implement a complete Global Strategy offering high potential results.