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Posts Tagged ‘U.S. Commercial Service’

GDPR Goes into Effect May 25: Is Your Company Ready to Comply?

Thursday, April 12th, 2018

If you’re involved with one of the thousands of New Hampshire companies exporting goods and services to markets within the European Union, you have, by now, probably heard about the General Data Protection Regulation rules, which go into effect May 25.

GDPR, as it’s better known, is strict protocol on how companies collect and protect data on citizens of the EU and companies must be within compliance next month.

From 8:30 am to 2:30 p.m., on May 4 in the Demoulas Room, Benoit Education Center at Rivier University in Nashua, the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service and the Granite State District Export Council present two seminars taking a closer look at the global trends in e-commerce transactions and GDPR.

Morning Session: Cross-Border eCommerce Sales: Practical Guidance for Small & Medium-Sized Businesses
Presented by James Bledsoe, eCommerce Innovation Lab, U.S. Department of Commerce

Global StudyPulse of the Online Shopper
Presented by John Wakefield, Lorie Schlatterer and Travis Klingseisen, UPS
Cost: $50 per person

Lunch and Learn: Understanding the New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) When Doing Business in the European Union
Presented by Attorney John Weaver, Associate at McLane Middleton
Cost: $50 per person

Cost to attend both sessions: $75 per person

REGISTER TODAY!

Contact Rachel Adams with any questions.  More information about each session and the agenda can be found HERE.

That’s a Wrap! Export Controls Training Event Sells Out in Portsmouth

Friday, April 28th, 2017

The OIC/US Commercial Service team, our Provident Bank sponsor and some of the NH businesses* taking part in the Bureau of Industry and Security’s export controls training in Portsmouth.

Our team at the Office of International Commerce (joined by our partners at US Commercial Service) wrapped up an intensive three day training that drew more than 100 attendees – not only 23 from New Hampshire, but from as far away as Vancouver, Canada.

The Bureau of Industry and Security’s export controls training made its only stop in the northeast this year in Portsmouth and it was a sellout.

This is gratifying for several reasons.

If you make a product here in New Hampshire that you sell to customers around the country, it is more than likely there is untapped potential in markets overseas. Exporting is a great way to diversify (and increase!) your bottom line.

But there are a lot of ins and outs to shipping  your products to international customers and this kind of training helps you to navigate the process.


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OIC and our many partners are dedicated to helping New Hampshire companies find success around the globe, no matter how big or how small they are. To see over 20 Granite State companies represented at this important training event shows us that they are finding success beyond the border and are committed to growing those markets.

Tina Kasim
Program Manager
Office of International Commerce

  • Clockwise from top: Dayou USA Trade Co.; New England Wire Technologies; Biteharder; Provident Bank; OIC/USCS team; Albany International; Titeflex; Kazakis Consultants International

NE Export Expansion Fund Opens the World for Your Small Business

Monday, January 9th, 2017

A program developed three years ago to provide financial assistance to New Hampshire businesses exploring global markets is now open to potential exporters around the region.

Courtesy US Commercial Service

Courtesy US Commercial Service

Due to its success, the New Hampshire Export Expansion Fund (EEF) is now the New England Export Expansion Fund covering New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. Through a partnership with The Provident Bank, the Granite State District Export Council, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and partners throughout New England, businesses across the region will now have the opportunity to receive financial assistance to expand sales to global markets.

The New Hampshire Office of International Commerce continues to be a key partner and driver of this export promotion grant program.

If the EEF program sounds familiar then that’s because it’s been around since 2014 assisting companies with international growth.

“Since its inception, New Hampshire companies have used the EEF over 60 times to support their international business development activities in over 20 markets,” said Tina Kasim, program manager of the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce. “We’re excited to see its continued growth through the partnership of The Provident Bank and we look forward to continuing our work with New Hampshire’s exporters to grow their international presence.”

Qualifying businesses can use EFF funds, via indirect grants, to take advantage of the many services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service. With these programs, businesses looking to expand their market reach overseas can use the funds to cover costs of due diligence on and even meeting with identified partners.

The EEF program is open to qualifying New Hampshire companies with 1,500 employees or less in their state’s location.  Although the program aims to concentrate on manufacturing companies, services companies, including educational institutions, travel and tourism, engineering and other service companies, may also qualify.

With the New England Export Expansion Fund, the world is open for business.  If your company is looking to expand internationally, we encourage you to contact OIC at 603.271.8444 or the New Hampshire Export Assistance Center/U.S. Commercial Service at 603.610.2417.

nelson

Nathaniel Nelson
International Trade Officer
Office of International Commerce

 

Announcing Trade Mission to Colombia for New Hampshire Businesses

Tuesday, May 12th, 2015

Colombia2State of New Hampshire Trade Mission to Colombia

What: Trade mission to Colombia with potential spin off to one additional nearby market
When: October 19-23, 2015
Where: Bogota, Colombia
Who: New Hampshire businesses
Cost: $1,800

*New Hampshire Export Expansion Funds available to cover B2B matchmaking services for spin off market only.

More details to come!

For more information, please contact:

Tina Kasim, Program Manager
NH Office of International Commerce 
Email: tina.kasim@dred.nh.gov
Phone: 603-271-8444

 
Justin Oslowski, Director
New Hampshire U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial Service
Justin.Oslowski@trade.gov
603-953-0210

5 Questions with Tina Kasim: Opening the Door to Exporting NH Goods

Friday, March 27th, 2015

On first blush, the idea of exporting products and services to another country can seem daunting, overwhelming, or confusing to businesses that have never done it before. However, New Hampshire has a prolific network of resources to support new and currently exporting businesses with financing, insurance, export controls, market research, logistics, and other specialized aspects of the exporting business.

To get an introduction to the world of exporting opportunities, we interviewed Tina Kasim, international program manager for the Office of International Commerce. Tina has more than 10 years of experience in international economic development programs. She started her career with the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, before moving to Jordan and later to Washington, DC, where she worked on internationally funded economic development programs in the Middle East-North Africa Region. She then brought this diverse range of expertise back to New Hampshire and the OIC, a part of the Division of Economic Development.

Tina Kasim, NH Office of International Commerce, and Justin Oslowski, US Department of Commerce, at the Paris International Air Show, where five NH businesses exhibited in 2013.

Tina Kasim, NH Office of International Commerce, and Justin Oslowski, US Department of Commerce, at the Paris International Air Show, where five NH businesses exhibited in 2013.

With the assistance of the OIC and the support of STEP Grants, many companies have been able to participate in international business events over the last several years. Can you share some brief success stories from companies that attended those events?

Over the last few years, the State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) grant has enabled our program to offer several opportunities to New Hampshire exporters, including access to and attendance at key international trade activities, in order to build a presence in a variety of markets.

Whether funding was put toward a State of New Hampshire pavilion made up of several New Hampshire exporters at a trade show or funding provided via a matching grant dedicated a company’s sales mission to Europe, OIC’s approach to put the STEP grant to use effectively centered on the needs of New Hampshire businesses.

Their successes range from signing distributors and agents in new markets, which allows them to increase sales, to connecting with numerous existing and potential clients in a single arena that allows them to nurture the relationship they have been cultivating for many years. After all, a lot, if not all, business is based on relationships.

Additional successes include the increased make-up of international sales in the revenues of participating businesses, which have resulted in the creation of new jobs in the state.

OIC is one piece of a larger infrastructure that supports businesses in their exporting efforts. Can you share a bit about the other public and private sector organizations all working together to serve New Hampshire’s exporting businesses?

The OIC is one link to a global network supported by the US Department of Commerce/US Commercial Service. Wherever in the world there is a US embassy or consulate, there is a team on hand that works to advocate and promote US businesses in that market.

OIC is also closely connected to SBDC, SBA, Export-Import Bank, and SCORE, all of which help tackle issues related to developing an international marketing plan and finding the financing for your export plans.

OIC also has a key partnership with the Granite State District Export Council (an affiliate of the US Department of Commerce, made up of mostly private sector business people), which offers peer-to- peer counseling to all things related to international business.

The great thing though about all these resources is the fact that there is no wrong door to knock on when you want to get into this line of business. Everything you may need is only a phone call or an email away.

Why, in your opinion, is New Hampshire such a great place for exporters to start or expand their businesses?

New Hampshire companies are run by savvy business owners and teams. They’re aggressive in identifying new markets and opportunities and they have great products and services to export that are innovative and really customized based on client requests. There is also this tight-knit network of resources available to businesses for the vast array of questions or obstacles that might pop up for business owners when developing international markets.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth for New Hampshire businesses?

There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question; it really does depend on the sector/industry on which a business focuses and which markets are best suited to the product or service.

Trends are pointing to areas in the Middle East for the medical sector, where there is a high demand for solutions, monitoring equipment and delivery of medications related to diabetes. The region is also experiencing the construction of new and big hospitals in various parts of the countries and has a need to monitor patients remotely.

The aviation industry as a whole is and will continue to see the need for components for airplanes, as airliners replace aging fleets with more fuel efficient and lightweight materials. There are also several new airports and airport expansions under construction in various parts of the world, many connected to major world sporting events. These airports and the event organizers and cities need safety and security equipment and tools.

There is a growing interest in East Coast seafood from China and Japan, where the clean and high quality of our seafood is held in very high regard.

There are also demands for water recycling, treatment, conservation, and management, not only in the world’s driest locations but also in areas prone to flooding.

Again, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution or answer for New Hampshire businesses, but we can help narrow things down in order to see what is the best fit and to be successful.

What programs do you have coming up for companies wanting to start or expand their exporting activities?

Keep an eye out for our on going webinar series. We select the topics based on feedback from the businesses, so if there is a particular area you think is a challenge to your business and others in the international realm (i.e., what is an ATA Carnet, Incoterms, etc.), just let us know. In the fall, we’ll have a couple of export compliance trainings available to businesses.

We also have the Export Expansion Fund, available to businesses looking to find and vet in-country partners; run a background check on a potential partner; or conduct a preliminary search of interest for a particular product in a market. This is all done in partnership with the US Department Commerce/US Commercial Service.

If you have any questions about these upcoming and ongoing activities, please contact Tina Kasim at tina.kasim@dred.nh.gov or visit ExportNH.org

“Doing Business in India” Roundtable Scheduled

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

With U.S. exports to India topping $18.6 billion in 2008 alone, the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center will be holding a “Doing Business in India” roundtable at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development (172 Pembroke Road) on Thursday, September 24th from 9 a.m.-noon.

india_new_delhiBoth large and small U.S. firms find India a lucrative market, especially for in the following sectors – aerospace and defense, airport and ground handling, computer technology, education services, electric power and transmission equipment, food processing, medical equipment, telecom equipment, retail and franchising, textile machinery, pollution control equipment and mining equipment. India’s GDP, growing at 6.7% (for 2008-09), makes it one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the second fastest in Asia.  India has potential for a sustained growth of 8-10% for the next couple of years.

Roundtable speakers will include U.S./India Business Council President Ron Somers, Charles Maddox, South Asia Desk, U.S. Commercial Service and Himanshu “Dicky” Desai of the India Association of New Hampshire.

The cost of the program is $40 per person. To register, please contact Katy Reno at (603) 271-8444 or katy.reno@dred.state.nh.us

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

Safety, Security, Aerospace & Defense Initiative Launched

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

In an effort to target some of the fastest growing worldwide industry sectors, the NH International Trade Resource Center is launching a “Safety & Security and Aerospace & Defense” global export marketing initiative at its new Concord facility (172 Pembroke Road) on Thursday, September 3rd from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

aerospacewrklc2These identified industry sectors are growing exponentially despite the global economic downturn and top markets include India, Japan, Canada, the UK, Germany, UAE, China, France and Brazil. The U.S. is the preeminent supplier of technologically advanced aerospace, defense, safety and security products to the world.

 

At this session, participants will learn how to penetrate the markets looking to procure these high tech products and services. In order to help local companies to enhance their global presence, the NH International Trade Resource Center has developed a global marketing consortium that will identify key marketing avenues and discuss how New Hampshire firms can address those needs.

 

Guest speakers will include Don Bliss, Director of the National Infrastructure Institute’s Center for Infrastructure Expertise, Dawn Wivell, Director of the NH International Trade Resource Center, Karen Wyman, NH International Trade Resource Center International Trade Officer, Gerald Gulley, Senior Vice President, Erudite, Inc. and Justin Oslowski, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce.

 

The cost of the program is $40 per person. To register, please contact Katy Reno at (603) 271-8444 or katy.reno@dred.state.nh.us. 

 

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.

 

– Steve Boucher, Communications & Legislative Director