PRESS

SANTA CRUZ – 01/26/06 – The “Global California: Doorstep to the World” international trade conference will be held Thursday, February 16 at the California Chamber of Commerce headquarters in downtown Sacramento.

Organized by the Monterey Bay International Trade Association, the Tradeport Consortium, and The CalTrade Report, the day-long “Global California” conference – which will also include a table-top exhibit – will address the current state and future development of global trade in California and present “effective and far-reaching tools to help California’s international business community become more effective in the global marketplace,” said Tony Livoti, executive director of the Monterey Bay International Trade Association.

“This event will go a long way in assisting small and medium-sized companies across the state realize their global potential and produce the kinds of global-reaching strategic and business alliances that the state’s economy will be relying on more and more in the future,” said Livoti. “There will also be a special presentation on how Global California is going online with public and private sector content from organizations throughut the state,” says Livoti.

Topics covered at the conference will include the state of California’s international business profile; a critical look at California’s transportation infrastructure; the challenges of conducting international business in a post-9/11 environment; and the China-California trade connection.

In addition, small and medium-sized businesses assessing their global potential will have the opportunity to learn about alternate sources of trade finance; branding a product or service for overseas markets; utilizing the Internet to enhance a corporate identity and maximize international sales; and the fundamentals of success in the global marketplace.

Distinguished panelists at the “Global California: Doorstep to the World” conference will include California State Senator Tom Torlakson; Mary Delmege, U.S. Southwest director, U.S. Commercial Service; Margaret Wong, president and CEO, McWong International; William Lewicki, director of marketing, Port of Stockton; Rod Balance, director, Global Trade Center of the Inland Empire; Sean Randolph, president and CEO, Bay Area Economic Forum; Howard Shatz, senior fellow, Public Policy Institute of California; Michael Bawden, president, BrandCentralStation Inc.; Jose Duenas, president, Bay Area World Trade Center; George Cummings, director of homeland security, Port of Los Angeles; and international business consultant and columnist Jock O’Connell.

Welcoming remarks for the conference will be presented by California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson.

“For California to be competitive in the global marketplace, we must earnestly begin building a state that is prepared to compete on a global stage,” said McPherson. “I look forward to working together with our international partners to sell California as a destination for international business.”

The conference is sponsored by The Bank of Alameda; the Osaka Prefectural Government Office; the Netherlands Business Support Office; the Consulate General of Luxembourg - San Francisco; AFEX; the Port of Oakland; Commercial News USA; PIERS – Global Intelligence Solutions; NUCBIOALERTS; Intercise Development; the Corporation for International Business; the Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco; the Port of Oakland, Think London, World Trade Press, Medialocate Inc. and the U.S. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce.

“Global California: Doorstep to the World” is the third “Global California” conference held since the first was organized in the fall of 2004 in response to the challenges facing California’s global trade community in a post-recall environment of severe budget cuts and the state government’s de-funding of the California Technology, Trade & Commerce Agency.

The first two conferences were held in San Jose and Oakland.

Tradeport.org is a statewide international business consortium owned the Bay Area Economic Forum, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and managed by Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA).

The CalTrade Report – http://www.caltradereport.com– “webzine” is the only publication either on-line or in-print dedicated to covering international trade news and developments impacting California’s global economy.

Individuals or parties interested in attending or exhibiting at the “One Global California: Doorstep to the World” conference can register at http://www.tradeport.org or by calling MBITA at 831-335-4780.

Contact:

Tony Livoti, MBITA (831) 335-4780
Michael White, CalTrade Report (323) 255-6565

Click here for TradePort Collaborator

View the World Trade Week Events Calendar for information on upcoming California Global Trade events.

TradePort is sponsored by:

MBITA is a nonprofit organization based in the Monterey Bay Area that provides trade promotion services to California, U.S. and foreign markets.

Bay Area Economic Forum develops, analyses and implements programs to strengthen the Bay Area's competitive economy and quality of life.

LA Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice of business for the Los Angeles area, helping its members grow and promoting collaboration.

CalTrade Report provides in-depth weekly coverage of California trade news and issues of interest to businesses large and small.

Trade & Export Finance Online is taking a leadership role in developing a public-private sector partnership to assist SMEs by mobilizing private sector capital for their trade finance needs.

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