(updated 6/18/08)
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Graduate Student Teams Available for International Consulting Projects: Monterey Institute of International Studies Seeks Partnerships with Silicon Valley & Monterey Bay Exporters
Does your firm need help with an international business development project that might benefit from an innovative, high-energy, creative MBA graduate student consulting team?
The Fisher Graduate School of International Business at the Monterey Institute of International Studies recently received a two-year, $183,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a Center for the Globalization and Localization of Business Exports (GLOBE) at the Fisher School. The Center will provide research, education and consulting to assist companies in adapting their products and services for foreign markets. Partners to the GLOBE Center include the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center – Monterey Bay, The Monterey Bay International Trade Association and the Marina Technology Cluster.
One focus of the GLOBE center is to provide consulting to businesses. Students and faculty advisors from the Monterey Institute will conduct studies for clients to address their specific globalization/localization needs. The Fisher School has already conducted over 200 similar consulting projects; clients have ranged from Hewlett-Packard to Ernest and Julio Gallo to Pebble Beach Corporation. The grant funds will allow GLOBE to conduct a limited number of free or low cost studies dealing specifically with globalization and localization issues.
Interested in participating? If so, contact the GLOBE center at globe@miis.edu. A prerequisite to the application process will include a short 4-minute survey on your company’s localization needs. For more information on the GLOBE center, please click the following link: Globe Center
Challenges of Trade and Investment in Europe
The Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA) a non-profit public \ private partnership dedicated to promoting small to mid-sized businesses in the global marketplace, and the U.S. Commercial Service in Monterey cordially invite you to the Santa Cruz Chapter luncheon meeting Challenges of Trade and Investment in Europe.
Guest speakers
Antonio Estevez, Economic \Commercial Consul of the Trade
Commission of Spain in Los Angeles will talk about the recent
development of the Spanish economy—the economic and commercial
relations between U.S. and Spain evolution and future
prospects—and the major business opportunities in the Spanish
economy—biotechnology, water and waste treatment, renewable
energies, chemicals, hospitality, education and publishing
industry, public transportation management (railway, highway),
food and beverages and home related industries.
Zygmunt Janiec, Head of Economic and Commercial Division of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, will talk about trade and investment opportunities in Poland. With 38.2 million people, Poland is the sixth largest EU country. The U.S. has roughly 3% of Poland’s import market, selling $759 million worth of products and services in 2003. However volume is expected to increase steadily due to a depreciated U.S. Dollar, reduced tariffs on a range of U.S. products, increased domestic demand and a continued overall affinity for U.S. products. Investment opportunities are in industry sectors such as automotive, software engineering, electronic equipment, aviation, food and food processing Zygmunt Janiec was previously General Manager of Foreign Investors Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Warsaw. Prior to this Dr. Janiec was the Polish Commercial Counselor of Poland in the Middle East (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman).
MBITA Member Franz Helbig, President of Monterey Venture Partners, LLC [www.montereyvp.com]will review key current economic, investment and trade conditions in Germany. He will position the country in the context of European and global competition for investment capital and export sourcing. As the third largest economy of the world, Germany has emerged as one of the key pillars of globalization, along with the U.S., China and India. Its leadership in many high technology fields, Germany remains a major target of successful foreign direct investment, centrally located in the prosperous 500 million people European market. The country's venture capital sector is in top three of the world, along with the U.S. and the U.K., a sure sign that innovation and business development are encouraged and supported by policy and funding. Major segments that are the focus of German investment activities include communications, biotechnology, medical devices, services and consumer goods. Franz will outline what makes investing in Germany attractive and what are critical issues for success there.
Phillip Kunze, Director, Industrial Investment Council [www.iic.de] will talk about investment opportunities with eastern Germany. With a total volume of US$2,400 trillion, Germany is the largest economy in Europe offering excellent opportunities for trade and investment for Californian companies. The country provides both access to a vast number of clients, individuals as well as corporations and a value-for-money location for product engineering or manufacturing in eastern Germany. Germany’s key industries with outstanding growth opportunities include photovoltaic, information technology and semiconductors, services and the large automotive industry.
Eva Boswell, Trade Commissioner of Innovation Norway [www.invanor.no/sf] will discuss trade and investment opportunities in Norway. Innovation Norway is the international arm of Norway’s commercial industry and research, a non-profit government organization that operates in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General. Working closely with political and economic leaders across borders, the focus is on value creation and matchmaking between international parties in the areas of IT, biotech\agri\food, energy and renewable energy, marine, and general goods.
For speaker bios, visit
[www.mbita.org/events/speaker_bios_europe.pdf]
Visit [www.mbita.org/europe.html for information about U.S./Europe trade issues.]
Attendance fee:
Online registration $25 members; $30 non members
PAY at door $30 members; $35 non members -
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: call 831-335-4780