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Posts Tagged ‘New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center’

NH Turkey Trade Mission: Extraordinary Experience

Friday, June 27th, 2014

(Commissioner Jeffrey Rose returns today from Turkey, following a week-long trade mission to that country, led by Gov. Hassan. Also accompanying the governor were representatives of seven New Hampshire businesses – Comptus of Thornton; Conductive Compounds of Hudson; Demers & Blaisdell of Concord; Hinkley Allen of Concord; Mae Consulting of Deerfield; Rokon of Rochester and Ulysses Advisory Group of East Kingston.)

Turkey-6-24-007

Gov. Hassan delivered the keynote speech to the Kaza Women and Business Association.

Our trade mission to Turkey has been an extraordinary experience. Our companies had over 100 business-to-business meetings and are returning home with dozens of high quality leads. Gov. Hassan went non-stop over the past week, meeting with many of the most senior business people in the country and receiving high praise from the more than 200 businesses she directly connected with during the mission. Some of the most gratifying moments of the trade mission came in her meetings with women business leaders and how inspired they were by her.

Financing being a key factor in international trade and economic development, we met with Garanti Bank, the leading private bank in Turkey.  The U.S., through the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC), has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Turkey, with a particular emphasis on women-owned businesses.

Garanti Bank’s contributions have made a positive impact here and since nearly 20 percent of OPIC’s investments have been projects in Turkey (our long-standing NATO partner), this underscores its importance to the U.S.

During the trade mission, I met with numerous senior level executives representing companies eyeing expansion into the U.S. market – a receptive audience for outlining the benefits of expanding to New Hampshire and to map out potential options for their consideration.

Of note is a fast growing international company seeking a potential warehouse/distribution center here in the Northeast.  Its overseas investment director was very interested in our lower cost of doing business, compared to rest of the region.  Another company that stood out is a leading forest-products company in Turkey, interested in our timber and mill capacity.  The company is very successful in Turkey and looking to grow in markets around the globe.

Thursday was another busy day for Gov. Hassan, the seven New Hampshire businesses taking part in this trade mission, and our team from DRED. Starting with breakfast, joined by a diverse group of Parliament members, it was followed by a robust discussion about government processes in Turkey and U.S, as well as how important international trade is in providing opportunities and benefits for both countries.

The opportunity to talk about New Hampshire’s growing aerospace and defense sectors came in a meeting I, and members of the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium, had with leaders of the OSTIM Defense and Aviation Custer of Turkey.  We had a spirited discussion about the important role the sector plays in both our economies and the collective efforts to organize and promote emerging clusters in both countries.  It was an opportunity to highlight two New Hampshire companies on the trade mission – Rokon of Rochester and Conductive Compounds of Hudson – and develop networking opportunities for them to engage with the Turkish industry.  We also discussed best practices and picked up some dynamic ideas to bring back to our growing NHADEC organization.

To talk more about the opportunities for New Hampshire businesses to make strategic investments into Turkey, I met with Ahmet Erdem, head of Investor Services Department with the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT).  We discussed the emerging sectors within the rapidly growing Turkish economy and incentive programs there to help spur international investment.  The country’s investment system targets geographic locations, strategic sectors, R&D, and duty/tax reductions.  With its growing purchasing power and its location at the cross roads of Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe, Turkey is attracting lots of foreign investment.

I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with Metin Deger, head of the Ministry of Economy for the Republic of Turkey, and speak about the benefits of Turkish companies investing in New Hampshire.  He is responsible for counseling Turkish companies on overseas investments and helps identify markets for companies.  He was impressed with what the Granite State offers foreign investors, particularly our strategic geographic location, skilled workforce and low tax structure.  It was a great discussion and once we provide some more information, he will promote New Hampshire to a variety of industries, associations and business groups.

I need to again thank our hosts – the Turkish Cultural Center and TUSKON – for their efforts in making our trade mission with Turkey so successful. Those efforts, which included months of planning and highly coordinated logistics, were extraordinary.

I am confident this is just the beginning of a long term relationship that will continue to yield fruits for both countries as we seeking opportunities to grow trade between New Hampshire and Turkey.

 

Jeffrey Rose

Commissioner

New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development

Seacoast Aerospace Initiative: Cleared for Take-off; Aero/Defense Business Cleared to Land

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

The Seacoast Aerospace Initiative launched Monday, with the ceremonial signing of a letter that clears for landing Canadian aerospace companies looking for opportunity to expand in one of New Hampshire’s fastest growing sectors.

The initiative came about in 2012, as Albany International and Safran were preparing for their co-location in Rochester, and the need to prepare for the growth of the industry.

The Seacoast Aerospace Initiative

The Seacoast Aerospace Initiative

For the past 18 months, a partnership that included officials from Dover, Portsmouth, Rochester and Somersworth, as well as the Pease International Tradeport, Great Bay Community College and the University of New Hampshire and we here at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, has been working to position this region as a hub for composites manufacturing.

Fast forward to this week and we celebrated a milestone: The signing of a letter – in French – inviting Quebec aerospace companies and suppliers not only  to expand here, but to work with us in other areas, such as research and education.

“This collaboration has strengthened the Seacoast’s position as a leader in the aerospace and defense industry,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan. “This is win-win for everybody – the companies involved, the cities, the Seacoast, the state and for our people. It’s a good day for business in New Hampshire.”

Quebec is our closest neighbor to the north and we share more than an international border; we owe much to them for our history, culture and work ethic.

“Montreal is the national hub for aerospace,” said Thierry Weissenburger, senior trade commissioner of the Canadian Consulate in Boston. “This collaboration is happening as burgeoning trade is going on and I expect it grow massively.”

If you recall, our aerospace industry got a boost when the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium signed a MOU with Aero Montreal in December, paving the way for our aerospace companies to have preferred relationships with their counterparts in Quebec.

AeroCanW

Marianne Bonnard

“This happened six months ago and already you are moving on with the next steps,” said Marianne Bonnard, with the Quebec delegation. “You are already moving on to the step and I think that says a lot about the determination of the region here and of our cooperation.”

With that came the ceremonial signing of the letter by our Commissioner Jeffrey Rose, of the Department of Resources and Economic Development; Mayors Karen Weston of Dover, Robert Lister of Portsmouth, T.J. Dean of Rochester, Dana Hilliard of Somersworth, and Arthur Nickless Jr., chairman of the Pease Development Authority.

“This regional hub is the centerpiece for our state’s economy, built around aerospace and defense,” Rose said. “We’re ready for take-off on the Seacoast.”

 

Lorna Colquhoun

Communications Director

NH Division of Economic Development

New Hampshire Export Growth Led Nation in 2013

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

New Hampshire led a national surge in export growth in 2013, according to the International Trade Administration, increasing its merchandise exports by more than 22 percent, to $4.3 billion.

Nationally, the US set an all-time record for the export of goods and services, reaching $2.3 trillion.

“We can attribute our growth to several factors, not the least of which is the savvy and innovative nature of our companies – their products are in demand around the globe,” said Tina Kasim, program manager for the International Trade Resource Center. “The other important factor is the strong partnership we have with the US Department of Commerce here in New Hampshire.”

The two agencies work closely with companies and manufacturers to connect them with trade opportunities.

“These numbers show that New Hampshire exporters continue to take advantage of international growth opportunities to diversify their market portfolios and grow their businesses,” said Justin Oslowski, director of US Commercial Service in Durham.

In the second year of funding of the State Trade Export Promotion program, New Hampshire used its nearly $300,000 award last year to provide matching grants to companies that enabled them to receive services about international markets.

New Hampshire’s merchandise export sales in 2013 outpaced the 2012 figures in many top destinations, including: the Czech Republic (+236 percent); Saudi Arabia (+196 percent); the United Arab Emirates (+161 percent); Colombia (+130 percent) and Canada (+109 percent). Key merchandise export categories include: Computer and electronic products; oil and gas; machinery manufactures; fabricated metal products and electrical equipment.

According to the ITA, the state’s largest market last year was Canada, posting merchandise exports of $1.4 billion, representing 31.7 percent of the state’s total merchandise exports. Following Canada was Mexico ($409 million); China ($266 million); Germany ($212 million) and the Netherlands ($177 million).

In 2012 (the latest figures available), the Manchester-Nashua metropolitan region recorded $1.6 billion in exports.

For more information about export, contact Kasim at the ITRC at 603-271-8444 or www.ExportNH.org or Oslowski at US Commercial Service at 603-953-0212.

 

 

Economic Potpourri

Thursday, January 31st, 2013

All sorts of good, interesting and useful news is crossing our desk this week, so without further adieu:

Hats off to the Hannah Grimes Center over in Keene, which received the first Champion in Action award of 2013, presented by Citizens Bank and WMUR-TV, in the category of strengthening communities. The prize includes a $35,000 grant.

Hannah Grimes Center: Champion in Action

Hannah Grimes, for which the center is named, was born in 1776 in Keene and lived on a farm in neighboring Roxbury. What she and her family could not produce on their land, they bought and bartered for from friends, keeping the 18th century economy moving and growing.

With her life as inspiration, the organization bearing her name began in 1997 as a retail marketplace for local products. More than 15 years later, it includes a business incubator providing office space for new and emerging businesses to start, grow, thrive and move out on their own.

Hannah Grimes’ Entrepreneurship Program is a six-month intensive program focusing on raising current businesses to the next level of operation. Graduates of the program report an average sales increase of 68 percent in one year.

The original Hannah Grimes Marketplace continues to grow and now supports more than 270 local artisans, cooks and farmers. The center recently established a partnership to strengthen and support the area’s growing regional food system, which will help improve farm income, create jobs in the food production industry, and stimulate economic productivity and food self-sufficiency in the region.

The Champions in Action program was launched in 2002 by Citizens Bank and WMUR to support nonprofit organizations in their efforts in local communities.

Congratulations to everyone at Hannah Grimes.

We’ve been talking trade a lot here at the Division of Economic Development because there is so much interest in the opportunities the world over has for New Hampshire companies.

For companies that have made the leap overseas, the International Trade Resource Center has a terrific seminar coming up on Feb. 13, International Marketing: Putting Your Best Face Forward. It’s a full day of tips including how to increase website traffic and using social media in other parts of the world.

Speakers include Nancy Clark, president of Glen Group in North Conway; Allen Voivod of Epiphanies Inc., in Gilford, and Wendy Pease of Rapport International in Sudbury, Mass.

Cost is $95 and includes breakfast and lunch. Go ahead and click over to register here.

(We’ll wait for you to come back.)

It’s lights, camera, action next week for an Amherst company, which will be featured on the popular television series, World’s Greatest, which is produced by How2Media.

Vibrac is a small manufacturer marking its 53rd year and it makes the world’s most sensitive torque measurement instruments, used in aerospace, military, defense, medical, bearing and the automotive industry.

We are especially pleased with this recognition, as our folks at the New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance program has worked with Vibrac. The piece is set to air Feb. 4 and 11.

“Very importantly, they are not resting on their longevity,” said GordonFreeman, executive producer of the show. “They continue to launch new product lines of precision measurement instruments to help multiple industries. That makes them a company we like to feature on World’s Greatest. We think their story will be meaningful to our viewers.”

We think so, too. Click on the media link above to see where it will air near you.

We’re heading over to the 8th annual Small Business Day next Friday, Feb. 8. Brought to you by the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, the half-day event will take a look at federal health care reform, financing strategies for your small business, the new LLC act and an update on policy issues from legislators.
Gov. Maggie Hassan will also attend.
Cost is $15 and you need to register. Call 224-5388×116 or click here.

 

Lorna Colquhoun

Communications Director

NH Division of Economic Development

It’s Monday. Do You Know Where Your Export Market Is?

Monday, August 27th, 2012

 W.S. Badger Co., in Gilsum, NH, worked with the Office of International Commerce to research potential export markets.

             Like many small business owners, Kathleen Johnson juggles everything from overseeing the manufacturing process to marketing her product, Lickity Bits.

Located up in the North Country town of Columbia, it caters to owners of horses by encouraging horses to accept bits. She has a niche product, but knows that she could grow … well … unbridled … especially outside the U.S.

“As a small business owner, it is a daunting task trying to navigate through international markets that may be available,” Kathleen said.

That’s where the Office of International Commerce stepped in and provided her with comprehensive information about a possible export market.

“We learned that Brazil is a potentially key market for us, since it has the third highest horse market worldwide and prospering economy,” she said.

The OIC received a grant from the Eastern Trade Council to provide market research about the Brazilian market to her and several other businesses.

Why Brazil? The South American country has the seventh largest economy in the world, which is weathering the global economic challenges better than other parts of the globe. With a diversified economy and an expected surge in infrastructure improvements from now until the 2016 Summer Olympics being held there, U.S.exports are increasing rapidly.

White Mountain Imaging of Concord also made use of the Brazil market study.

“In a very competitive market, (the research) located one company interested in receiving information from WMI,” said Frank Morabito, the company’s international sales product manager.

Out in the Monadnock region, W.S. Badger Co. makes organic body care products, employing about 40 people at its new Gilsum plant. No stranger to the OIC, it has worked several times with the staff, most recently to help find a distribution partner in Russia.

“This service proved itself very valuable, as it allowed us to enter the market with a company that is screened and trusted,” said Stephanie Ritchie, Badger’s international accounts manager. “Our sales have grown slowly, but steadily, and we look forward to continuing to expand our business inRussia.”

If your company is considering exporting, you may be eligible for a grant that will pay for market research. The funds are part of the State Trade Export Promotion grant, which will, for qualifying businesses, provide these services at no cost. Available through the U.S. Commercial Service, the research usually costs between $500 and $750.

Orders for the services must be placed by mid-September. For more information, contact Kasim at 603-271-8444 or email Tina.Kasim@dred.state.nh.us.

 

Lorna Colquhoun

Communications Director

Division of Economic Development

 

Another Aerospace Opportunity

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Last month, several New Hampshire companies doing business in the aerospace industry, including EPTAM Plastics in Northfield and Corfin Industries in Salem, were among more than 1,500 exhibitors taking part in the Farnborough International Air Show in England.

By the close of the 5-day event, orders were placed for 758 aircraft for a total of $72 billion, representing a 53 percent increase from the 2010 show. (The Paris Air Show is the sister event and is held in odd number years.)

NH aerospace companies can soar at Aero Montreal event next month.

The aerospace industry is hot.

Next month, there’s another opportunity for Granite State aerospace-related businesses and it’s closer to home – just north of the border, in Montreal.

Gov. John Lynch will lead the delegation of company representatives Sept. 26 to Sept. 28 to the Aero Montreal Global Supply Chain Summit. Funding from SBA’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant is available to underwrite the $500 cost for qualifying companies, which includes bus transportation to and from Concord to Montreal. The cost to companies that do not fall within the grant guidelines is $750.

Topics and seminars include development of the supply chain for both aerospace and defense and how companies can position themselves; growth management; plant access and transportation to aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and preferential access to supply chain/procurement representatives.

The deadline to register is this week. For more information, contact Tina Kasim here at the Office of International Commerce, at 271-8444, or email tina.kasim@dred.state.nh.us.

Doing Business in Russia Focus of Seminar

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

The New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center has announced that it is hosting a seminar, “Doing Business in Russia” to be held from 9 am to noon, Tuesday, January 24th at ITRC’s headquarters at 172 Pembroke Drive in Concord. Registration will begin at 8:30am.

With Russia about to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), now is an opportune time to learn how to do business with Russia successfully. Russia is the world’s 11th largest economy and has the highest per capita GDP ($15,900) of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. As the largest country in the world, it spans across nine time zones and has an increasingly growing economy. Exports from the U.S. to Russia and from NH to Russia are continuously growing. In 2010, US exports to Russia were nearly $6 billion, a 12% increase over 2009; while from January through October 2011, New Hampshire exports to Russia increased by nearly 200%.

The speaker for the half-day seminar will be Aleksei Svetozarev, a business development manager for MIG Express, a global logistics company offering customized supply chain management solutions to clients around the world. With network of global alliance partners, MIG offers increased value to its clients by providing them with unmatched expertise in all aspects of supply chain management. Although MIG’s services offer worldwide coverage, it has exceptional networks and expertise in Russia.

Participants will learn the ins and outs of Russian business practices. They will be provided with an overview of Russia, its business culture, why NH companies should do business with Russia and the available resources to assist them. Other topics to be covered include common difficulties and how to avoid them, Russian customs procedures and how to expedite product delivery.

Cost for the seminar is $40. To register and pay online, go to http://www.exportnh.org/calendar/registration.aspx. To register and pay by check (payable to SNHU/IIB), mail your check to: ITRC Seminar, PO Box 1856, Concord, NH 03301-1856. For questions, call Ellie White at 603-271-8444 or email ellie.white@dred.state.nh.us.

A bureau of the NH Division of Economic Development, the International Trade Resource Center single offers New Hampshire businesses interested in entering or expanding their reach in the global markets a full spectrum of information, programs and customized services. ITRC is located at 172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03301. For more about these services, call (603) 271-8444 or visit exportnh.org.

Intro to Export Seminar to be Held in Concord

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

With over 95% of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, there has been no better time to develop an international business plan.

internationalRecognizing that fact, the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center, in partnership with Dachser USA and RBS Citizens, will hold an “Introduction to Exporting” seminar on Thursday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, 172 Pembroke Road in Concord.

The seminar will cover researching international markets, developing an international business plan, international pricing, taxes and tariffs, logistics, financing, complying with export regulations, the reasons for going global and much more.

Registration is priced at $95 per person and includes breakfast and lunch. Those interested should visit www.exportnh.org/calendar/registration.aspx.

Administered by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development’s Office of International Commerce, the ITRC plans, develops and administers programs for international trade promotion and foreign market development.  For more information about the ITRC, call (603) 271-8444, or visit their website at www.exportnh.org

ITRC Plans Intro to Exporting Seminar

Friday, March 18th, 2011

In cooperation with the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center (ITRC) will hold a seminar, “Introduction to Exporting,” on Tuesday, March 22 from 3-5pm at the Roundabout Diner, 580 US Highway RT 1 Bypass in Portsmouth.

export-classic“Since 95% of the world’s consumers live outside of the United States, developing an international business plan can be key to a company’s success,” New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center Director Dawn Wivell said. “Currently more than 2,200 New Hampshire companies export and the majority of them are small or medium-sized businesses. In 2010 alone, the Granite State exported $4.4 billion in goods and services, surpassing its previous all-time record. New Hampshire is number one among the states in rate of export growth, and we’re well above the national rate of 21.31%. That’s why this is an excellent time for businesses in New Hampshire to make exporting a part of their business plan.”

The seminar will cover researching international markets, developing an international business plan, international pricing, taxes and tariffs, logistics, financing and much more.

The event, which is sponsored by ITRC, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, People’s United Bank and the U.S. Commercial Service, is free to Chamber members and $10 for non-members. For more information or to register, please email info@portsmouthchamber.org.

Administered by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development’s Office of International Commerce, the ITRC plans, develops and administers programs for international trade promotion and foreign market development.  For more information about the ITRC, call (603) 271-8444, or visit their website at www.exportnh.org

Global Intellectual Property Protection Focus of ITRC Seminar

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Recognizing that protecting American patents abroad can present challenges, the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center will present a seminar titled “Global Intellectual Property Protection” on Thursday, March 10th from 9 a.m.-noon at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development (172 Pembroke Road).  

globeCo-sponsored by Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA, this seminar will discuss different protection methods and how to obtain them, when and where they may be enforced and what options exist for business officials to protect their company’s intellectual property. The guest speakers for the event are Sheehan, Phinney, Bass & Green intellectual property expert attorneys Doug Verge, Peter Nieves and Daniel Fink. 

The price of the seminar is $40 per person. For registration details, please visit www.exportnh.org/calendar/registration.aspx. For questions, contact Ellie White at (603) 271-8444 or ellie.white@dred.state.nh.us.