For international use, it is important to provide a translation of the card information on the reverse side. For accuracy, please hire a professional translation agency. The card needs the basic information: name, title, company, and contact information. By using a professional translation agency such as Rapport International, you will be made aware of cultural nuances. Depending on the country, there are specific paper and ink preferences.

CEO of Culture Coach International (CCI), Kari Heistad writes, “Understanding the norms and values of the local culture while traveling internationally helps to avoid giving offense. Observing the appropriate etiquette communicates respect and facilitates communication. In many parts of the globe a business card carries much greater significance than a handy means to trade contact information. For the most part, the exchange of cards occurs at the beginning or end of the initial meeting although this detail should be clarified for any given nation before traveling there.”

In Japan, the business card is treated with respect and honor and there is a lot of ceremony involved with presenting and receiving cards. When you are offered a card, receive it with both hands; bow, and express appreciation for the meeting. It is polite to examine the card and make a comment. Please note that it is rude to put the card away immediately. It is also unacceptable to use the blank areas to make notes.

In China, it is important to present your card before asking for one. As in Japan, accept the card with both hands; bow, and thank the person for the opportunity to meet them. Review the card and try to make a small comment or clarification. Again, do not put the card away and do not write on the blank areas. And, absolutely do not put it in your back pocket – this is a big insult.

In India, there is no need to translate your card as English is widely spoken in the Indian business world. Make sure you have plenty of cards as business cards are exchanged in non-business or social situations. In most Islamic countries, you should present and receive cards with your right hand because one never knows what you might have been doing with your left hand.
Knowing the cultural nuances of the country you are visiting is an important business skill. By not presenting and receiving cards in a positive manor, you may insult your business associates. Customs that are accepted in one country may not be accepted in another. It is up to you to consult a translation and interpretation company in order to be prepared. Rapport International can help you learn about the variations between different cultures. Based in metro-west Boston, Rapport can provide quality translation done by experienced translators in over 100 languages.

Microfinance is a fancy word for providing small loans, savings, insurance, and training to people living in poverty. Opportunity International is a global organization that is providing microfinance to entrepreneurs in developing countries. By providing support, people are able to build businesses, support their families, create jobs and eventually end the cycle of poverty. As the loan is paid back, the money is loaned out again, thus changing the lives of many people.

Opportunity International focuses on the needs of women since the majority of people living in extreme poverty are women and children. In many underdeveloped countries, women are not allowed to pursue an education, hold a job, or own property. To help combat this problem, Opportunity International gives the majority of loans to women.

Many women-owned, small business companies in the United States who have an interest in globalization are supporting the work of Opportunity International. Rapport International, a translation and interpretation company based in metrowest Boston, MA has partnered with the “coffee club” to help support microfinance around the world. Rapport Intl. is one of the leaders in quality translation and interpretation services and has a strong interest in supporting women entrepreneurs.

For more information on this charity and ways to get involved, please visit opportunity.org.

Wednesday, March 31
8:30-10:30 am
NH Institute of Politics , Saint Anselm College
100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester

Registration opens at 8 am

To RSVP, please email rsvp@shaheen.senate.gov or contact Senator Shaheen’s Manchester office at 603-647-7500.

Are you a coffee drinker?

Then make the Opportunity International Coffee Club your new “coffee store.” This is an exciting new partnership with Equal World Coffee that will help Opportunities clients grow their businesses and repay their loans. And you’ll enjoy some of the finest coffee in the world – at about the same price you would pay for ordinary coffee at the grocery store.

How to join in 3 steps:

1. To make Opportunity your “coffee store,” just go to www.opportunity.org/coffeeclub 
2. Click member sign-up and complete a simple registration form.
3. Create a subscription order if you’d like to receive recurring deliveries. They offer a variety of items to satisfy all your coffee needs. Prices start at $9.95 for a 12 oz. bag of premium specialty coffee.

Change the way you buy coffee – and help motivated people change their lives!

Visit www.opportunity.org/coffeeclub now to find out how about this new way to help end global poverty faster.

1. Webinar Series: A Basic Guide to Exporting
2. Webinar Series: Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) – In Spanish
3. Webinar: Caribbean Webinar Series: Bahamas
4. Seminar: Complying with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
5. Webinar: Financing Solutions – Top Strategies for Success in Today’s Global Markets
6. Webinar: Green Build and Renewable Energy Opportunities in Italy
7. Event: Dueling Tigers: China and India – Mega Market Opportunities and Challenges
8. Event: 4th Annual International Trade Conference: 2009 Topic: Selling to Medical East and North Africa
9. Event: International Business Association – Global Certified Trade Mission to India
10. Event Series: Green Build Road Show (five cities)
11. Event: Certified Trade Mission to Turkey
12. Event: Exports Live! Real Deals – Real Profits
13. Event: Access America – Build Your Client Base in China
14. Deadline for 2010 Exporter of the Year

If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/home/us.html

Webinar Series: A Basic Guide to Exporting

Trade Financing and International Payments
Date/Registration: September 23, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EDT https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q9Z
Cashing In with U.S. Free Trade Agreements
Date/Registration: October 7, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EDT
https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=0Q03
Understanding Export Controls
Date/Registration: October 21, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EDT
https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=0Q02
Finding International Partners and Conducting Due Diligence
Date/Registration: November 4, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EST
https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=0Q04
Understanding Documentation
Date/Registration: November 18, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EST
https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=0Q05
Protecting Your Intellectual Property Rights
Date/Registration: December 2, 2009; 2:00-3:00pm EST
https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=0Q06
Learn valuable skills for growing your business by selling to international buyers. Based on the popular, newly-updated in 2008 Department of Commerce book, “A Basic Guide to Exporting”. Register now for one or the complete series of seven interactive and authoritative sessions. Register now for two or more webinars and get a complimentary copy of the official guide to exporting.
 
Presented in Spanish by U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division staff, learn about the harmonized system, useful classification tools, general rules of interpretations and the Schedule B Manual. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. For more information, contact Linda.Abbruzzese@mail.doc.gov

This special online webinar presents exporting to The Bahamas, where the U.S. is the second largest trading partner. U.S. companies will learn about The Bahamas’ stable market, key industry sectors, legal aspects of doing business, as well as growth trends of the market in one of our closest developing neighbors. The featured speaker will be Robert Jones, U.S. Commercial Counselor for the Caribbean Region in this fourth in our series of five Caribbean webinars. For more information, contact Linda.Abbruzzese@mail.doc.gov

Seminar: Complying with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
Venue: San Jose, California
Date: September 29, 2009
Learn more/register:https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q9Y

Attend this one-day seminar to demystifying ITAR and learn how ITAR affects your export sales and if your company is doing what it should to comply. Agenda includes an overview of ITAR’s players, policies, and processes, as well as insight into minimizing liabilities and risk for you and your organization. Experts will share their experiences, best practices and guidance on how to successfully navigate the ITAR minefield. Your registration also includes a free, one-hour consultation with representatives from JP Morgan, McKenna, Long and Aldridge, LLP, and U.S. Department of Commerce trade specialists, on a space-available basis. For more information contact: Amy.Zobrist@mail.doc.gov

To succeed in today’s global markets, having access to financing and risk mitigation solutions is more important than ever. The U.S. Commercial Service, in collaboration with Comerica Bank and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, brings to you an insightful webinar on trade finance solutions to help you optimize working capital, mitigate key risks, reduce costs and simplify the trade process. Topics to be covered in this webinar are the following: An overview of the domestic and international economic conditions, trends and opportunities, financing solutions, and keys to success in export financing. A question and answer session will follow after the presentation. This webinar is for all U.S. companies: new to market and increased to market. For more information, contact Linda.Abbruzzese@mail.doc.gov

Learn about trends in the green building and renewable energy market in Italy from leading Italian experts, and events and services to support market entry. Learn about market trends, regulations, standards, and emerging opportunities from experts in the field of green building and renewable energy in Italy. The European Union has mandated increased energy efficiency in buildings and a target of using renewables for 20 percent of energy needs by 2020. Italian law, local building codes, and the high cost of conventional energy are providing the impetus for the increased use of green technologies. The U.S. Commercial Service in Italy offers an array of services and events designed to help U.S. companies enter this growth market. A live question and answer session follows the presentation. For more information contact Deborah.Doherty@mail.doc.gov

China and India are two of the world’s fastest growing economies. But how do you determine which holds the best opportunities, and in which you should invest your time and resources? Join the U.S. Commercial Service and China Business Information Center staff for best-practices on strategies for market-entry; protecting your Intellectual Property Rights; finding, vetting, and appointing local partners; trade finance; and comparative advantages and disadvantages between these two mega markets. For more information, contact William.Lawton@mail.doc.gov
 
Experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. Commercial Service, Middle East-North Africa Business Information Center, and Market Access and Compliance); USTR; U.S.-Saudi Business Council; FedEx; Procter and Gamble; and selected companies (covering legal, financial, and regulatory considerations) will provide you with the tools you need to capitalize on opportunities in this dynamic region of the world. For more information, contact Marcia.Brandstadt@mail.doc.gov

The International Business Association–Global (IBAGlobal) is organizing a Certified Trade Mission to Indonesia (with proposed stops in Jakarta, Surabaya, Kalimantan and Bali), to promote firms offering innovative products, services and technologies and who are interested in positioning themselves for long-term business in the world’s third largest democracy with a thriving open economy (fourth largest country), with a population of over 230 million. CS Jakarta will assist IBAGlobal with matchmakings, briefings and other logistics support. Mission recruitment is done by IBAGlobal in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service (U.S. Embassy Jakarta and the U.S. Export Assistance Center, Ontario, California). For details on IBAGlobal Trade Mission, contact: David Loelkes: dloelkes@ibaglobal.org

Event Series: Green Building Road Show (five cities)
Pittsburgh: November 1–3, 2009
Denver: November 3–5, 2009
San Jose: November 6, 2009
San Francisco: November 9, 2009
Phoenix: November 9–13, 2009
Learn more/register:http://www.export.gov/greentechnologies

Learn about lucrative opportunities in Europe’s already-strong and growing sustainable construction market. Participants will receive in-depth briefs on the five biggest EU construction markets estimated at $975 billion from U.S. Commercial Service officers, hear from experts on certifications and standards issues, and discuss market entry strategies in one-on-one counseling sessions with our E.U. market specialists. Decision makers in U.S. companies offering sustainable products and services should participate. In addition, don’t miss the U.S. Commercial Service’s Showtime program at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo November 11-13 in Phoenix, AZ. Five senior commercial officers from Europe as well as the standards specialist from the U.S. Mission to the EU will be available to meet one-on-one with you to discuss opportunities across Europe. For more information about the Showtime please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/europe/greenbuild.html. For more information contact Deborah Doherty at deborah.doherty@mail.doc.gov

FedEx has organized a trade mission, certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, to Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Turkey is an attractive market for U.S. businesses. It is a regional commercial hub with access to over 1.34 billion people in multiple markets throughout Europe, Russia, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. It is also one of the world’s largest economies and with a per capita GDP of over $9,500 it is considered an upper middle class economy. The government has initiated a number of structural reforms to improve the business environment and facilitate economic growth. Istanbul alone is responsible for over 55 percent of the county’s trade, Ankara is the capital city and Izmir is one of the largest port cities and home to one of the largest special economic zones. This mission is designed for U.S. business people interested in meeting potential Turkish partners, agents, buyers, distributors or representatives through appointments scheduled in advance with pre-screened business contacts. Delegates will also meet with key contacts from Turkish businesses, U.S. executives already successfully operating in Turkey, government officials, trade specialists, and others. This mission will provide delegates with important networking opportunities and market intelligence to help them successfully expand into this dynamic market. For more information contact Marilyn Hinson: mghinson@fedex.com

Registration deadline October 5, 2009.
 
This unique trade event is specially designed for small and medium-sized businesses that want to start or grow their international sales. Participants will learn about the government product and services available
to help their businesses successfully compete worldwide. The half-day seminar will include a series of interactive panel discussions with federal government partners as well as with exporters highlighting their success stories. After lunch, there will be an opportunity for one-on-one sessions with government trade professionals and networking with trade finance lenders, export credit insurance brokers, government and industry experts, and other successful U.S. exporters. For more information, call 888.966.2009 or e-mail stephen.maroon@exim.gov

“AccessAmerica” is a new online Chinese-language directory of U.S. firms that provide customized services to Chinese companies that want to conduct business in the U.S., including finding partners and setting up offices. The AccessAmericaService Provider directory gives U.S.-based companies and economic development agencies access exposure to Chinese clients who seek U.S. expertise in global logistics, trade finance, HR, site selection, tax, insurance, legal and regulatory issues, marketing, and other support related to investing in the U.S. Through the U.S. Commercial Service offices in China and our U.S. and Chinese partners, the directory will be seen by thousands of prospective customers and investors. It is promoted in China, in Chinese, in cooperation with our partners including CCPIT, Shanghai Overseas Investment Development Board and the American Chambers of Commerce in Beijing and Southwest China, among others. Subscribers also have the option to post an article or guide on the AccessAmerica Investor Resource webpage. AccessAmerica is featured on the U.S. Embassy Commercial Section Chinese webpage, which had over 60,000 hits in July. It will also be featured on the U.S. Department of Commerce Invest in America webpage which has 9,000 hits per month. AccessAmerica be featured at September’s China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, and at future Invest in America events. Your listing will include company information, company logo, and contact details, all translated into Chinese, for a one-year subscription fee of $400. Increase your firm’s visibility in China and boost your service exports. For more information please contact Julie.Carducci@mail.doc.gov
 
The U.S. Commercial Service – Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/home/us.html

New Hampshire Export Statistics

New Hampshire exports continue to exceed expectations! According to third quarter statistics, Q3 2008 exports surpassed Q3 2007 exports by 28%! The Granite State is currently ranked as the 15th fastest growing state for exports in the U.S. Exports continue to be a bright spot in New Hampshire’s economy. Our exports have grown every year and climbed to a record all-time high of $3 billion in 2007.