UPDATE
This issue has some exciting news from our members regarding foreign direct investment into California for commercial and residential real estate, as well as news from MBITA member, Transmetrics Inc., on the launching of California's High Speed Rail.

Viet Nam is now on MBITA's radar with new member Vietnam Resource Group (VGR) whom we are planning some exciting initiatives, as well an article on new member, Wexus Technologies, Inc. and their new smart phone application that is a major breakthrough for the agriculture industry, and RoadEx Companies, Inc. leaders in 3PL logistic services. Enjoy.
President
Tony Livoti
MBITA
Vice President
Shay Adams
AIM Medical Sales
Members
Dr. Edward Valeau
Els Group LLC
Hartnell College
President Emeritus
Marcelo Siero
IdeasSiero
Jim Faith
Jim Faith & Associates
Cristina Polesel
MBITA
General Manager
This newsletter has been created by MBITA's editor
Cristina Polesel
cristina@mbita.org
MBITA New Member Vietnam Resource Group (VGR)
MBITA welcomes new member The Vietnam Resource Group (VRG). VRG was organized to create and maintain a network of professionals of various backgrounds who are cooperating to identify, facilitate and develop business opportunities between small-medium-sized Vietnamese and American companies.
To achieve its objectives, VRG relies on a combination of business and cross-cultural experience with established networks and resources in the United States and in Vietnam.
We are confident that with their combined experience, cross-cultural understandings and their established base of operations, VGR provide their clients with the most cost-effective and practical approaches to identify and develop business opportunities in Vietnam.
Since 1995 VGR has been cooperating with a number of organizations/companies in the U.S. and in Vietnam to provide the following services:
Trade & Investment
- Outsourcing products in Vietnam
- Buyer/Seller Referral services
- Identification of prospective local agents, distributors or partners
- Formation of Joint Venture
- Consultation on business development
Tour & Travel
- Customized Business Tours in the U.S. and in Vietnam
- Trade & Investment Missions to Vietnam
- Other services: Translation - Visa Application - Hotel booking - Air/Ground Transportation
Training
- Professional Executive Training Programs
- Summer Work & Travel program in the U.S.
- Internship Programs in the U.S.
- Volunteered Teaching English in Vietnam Program
A graduate of Law School in Saigon, Vietnam, Mr. Trung Trinh spent nearly 20 years in Human Development field both in public and private sectors in the Washington DC Metropolitan area prior to founding the Vietnam Resource Group to facilitate business development between the U.S. and Vietnam.
MBITA New Member
MBITA welcomes new member Wexus Technologies, Inc.
Energy Efficiency for agriculture
Wexus Technologies is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company focused in energy efficiency for agriculture. They are the smart link between the utility grid & equipment in the field for continuous energy savings.
Don't pay too much for energy
Wexus runs a full analysis of your farm's energy data and bills. They can make sure you're on the right rate plan, measure and monitor all of your energy usage and utility bills in one place, track your savings each month, and find money back solutions for your farm through utility rebates and demand response programs.
Frustrated by confusing utility bills?
Wexus can help.
"With Wexus' rate analysis service, our operation was able to save 40% (+$40,000) in annual energy costs on just one irrigation pump."
- Large berry & vegetable grower
Central Coast, CA
MBITA New Member
California High Speed Rail on its way
By MBITA Member Jack Ybarra, Transmetrics Inc.
Currently, several countries around the world have high speed rail lines in operation. China has 742 miles in operation plus more under construction, Japan 1524, France 1163, Germany 798, Spain 994, Italy 462, Taiwan 214, Turkey 146, Portugal 625, South Korea 205, Belgium 173, United Kingdom 70, India 0 and the USA 0. Those countries with current high speed rail lines have 8416 additional miles under construction and 9784 under design, including Russia, Poland, Iran, Morocco, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, the United States has just broken ground on the first segment of an 800 mile HSR system in California.
On January 6, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown, Federal transportation officials, State officials and Legislators, and local dignitaries gathered in Fresno to officially start construction on the 68 billion dollar California High Speed Rail System. Under planning for the past ten years, this much needed project is finally underway.
Funding for this project was passed in November 2008 by the people of California under proposition 1A. Additional funds are coming from Federal and State sources. A large portion will also come from private investment sources.
The system has a total of 800 miles and will eventually connect Sacramento and San Diego. By 2029, the system will run from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under 3 hours at speeds of over 200 miles per hour. In addition, the California High Speed Rail Authority is working with local and regional transit partners to implement a statewide rail modernization plan that will invest billions of dollars in local and regional rail lines to meet the State's 21st century transportation needs.
MBITA Member Brubeck-Wong Realtors Story
Bernice Wong has been at the forefront of real estate in the northern Monterey Bay area for nearly 40 years. Ms Wong was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents who had set out across the Pacific to find a better life for their children. The Wong's soon moved to Santa Cruz to escape the harsh city life and found their new home in the Monterey Bay. The region has all the qualities one could hope for: fresh air, clean water, an abundance of local produce, culture, and high quality educational facilities. Since becoming a real estate agent in 1977, Ms Wong has made it her passion to help families sell and find their perfect home.
A life changing event in 2012 motivated her to find out more about her past and trace her heritage back to China, and eventually shifted her career focus to working with overseas clients. As an active member in the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), Ms Wong has developed important connections throughout the organization.
In 2014, she participated in her first major tour group from Shandong with MBITA that highlighted UC Santa Cruz, Canepa Designs Classic Car Museum, the Steinbeck Center, the Giant Redwoods, Strawberry fields and the Long Marine lab. From that success Ms Wong was selected by AREAA to design and lead a tour for a very important group of Chinese delegates here to attend the U.S China Summit in Los Angeles. The delegates were able to gather key information about production and green building at the Nordic Naturals LEED Gold certified production plant, and small town planning techniques from the Carmel Planning Department, as well enjoy pleasure stops along 17-mile drive and the Pebble Beach Golf Course.
Together, Ms Wong's background, experience, and regional reputation make her the ideal real estate professional for any interested buyer looking for investment property, connections to an EB-5 program, or to relocate their family as Ms Wong once did many years ago.
Ayse's Corner
Ayse's Corner is a feature column of the World TradeWinds eZine'. Ayse Oge is a published author and global trade marketing expert and author of Emerging Markets.
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
As we get more connected and immersed in globalization, we must realize that the reaction caused by a single misstep can lead to misunderstanding and conflict between international trade professionals, and ultimately derail their best efforts to cooperate with foreign counterparts.
MBITA's trade finance column features articles from the experts in the field of EXPORT FINANCING.
Export-Import Bank Small-Business Success Story: Reliable Industries Inc. of New Orleans
Small Business's Exports Support 500 American Companies Throughout its Supply Chain
Washington, D.C. - Reliable Industries Inc. of New Orleans, a small-business supplier of equipment and parts located in Harahan, La., makes 60 percent of its sales internationally with the assistance of export-credit insurance provided by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).
Reliable Industries supplies mining, marine, construction and power-generation industries domestically and internationally with U.S.-manufactured products from 500 companies, including Donaldson, Parker Hannifin, Stanadyne, and Puradyn. The company exports these and other U.S.-made goods to customers across the globe, from Guatemala to Australia. Reliable Industries is also an active exporter to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Zambia.
"Expanding exports can bring huge benefits to small businesses and the communities they call home, but they need liquidity and risk protection to be competitive in international markets," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Ex-Im Bank has the financing solutions to meet these needs so that small businesses like Reliable Industries can boost their sales and create more middle-class jobs in Louisiana and elsewhere."
"Ex-Im Bank has leveled the playing field and allowed us to offer terms that are competitive with large companies. With Ex-Im Bank, we have the same tools that they have," said Reliable Industries owner and CEO Michael Rongey.
The company began using Ex-Im's products in 1985 after the CEO learned about the Bank's working capital support from a local lender and maintained an Ex-Im-guaranteed working capital line of credit until 2011. Today, Reliable Industries uses the Bank's multibuyer insurance policy to support the company's present line of credit with a community bank. Ex-Im Bank's insurance can function as a financing tool because lenders are more likely to extend credit against an exporter's foreign receivables (i.e., invoices to be paid) if they are insured.
Longtime broker of Ex-Im Bank insurance policies, J. Maxime Roy in Lafayette, La., has provided Reliable Industries with guidance and assistance in the use of Ex-Im Bank products. A list of brokers facilitating the Bank's insurance policies can be found on Ex-Im's web site at http://www.exim.gov/about/whoweare/partners/insurance-brokers.cfm.
Reliable Industries Inc. of New Orleans has served the mining, marine, construction and power-generation industries for the past 32 years. The company supplies engines, filters, components and parts for more than 1,100 customers in 60 countries. Reliable Industries has 40 employees at its warehouse and shipping facility in Harahan, La.
This press release was issued on Jan. 23rd by Export-Import Bank. Press release source article.
U.S. Exports Hit New Annual Record, Reaching $2.35 Trillion in 2014
American Businesses Drive Record Goods Exports to 52 Countries
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that U.S. exports in 2014 set a record for the fifth consecutive year, reaching $2.35 trillion. International Trade in U.S. Goods and Services data released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce show that U.S. exports are up more than $760 billion since 2009.
"Exports have played a critical role in America's economic comeback, and they continued to do so in 2014," said Secretary Pritzker. "President Obama has set an ambitious trade agenda that will open up more markets to 'Made in America' goods and services, allowing our businesses to sell their products all over the world so they can expand and hire here at home.
"Central to that task is the passage of trade promotion legislation and the enactment of strong trade agreements that uphold our values. These agreements are essential to the continued growth of our economy, the creation of good American jobs, the economic security of our families, as well as our nation's competitiveness and national security."
U.S. Goods Exports
U.S. goods exports increased 2.7 percent to a record $1.64 trillion in 2014. Key industry sectors setting records included capital goods; consumer goods; petroleum products; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive vehicles and parts.
In 2014, the largest export markets for U.S. goods were Canada, Mexico, and China, with exports to each country registering annual records.
U.S. Services Exports
Annual services exports hit an all-time high of $710.3 billion, led by increases in the travel, transport, charges for the use of intellectual property, and financial services sectors. Exports from these sectors were all record highs in 2014.
The trade surplus in services exports reached a record $231.8 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent from 2013.
U.S. Free Trade Agreement Partners
Goods exports to the 20 economies that have trade agreements with the United States reached a record $765.1 billion - an increase of 4.3 percent from 2013.
Increased U.S. exports to Colombia (up 10.5 percent), South Korea (up 6.8 percent), and the CAFTA-DR partners (up 5.7 percent) highlight the benefits of trade agreements.
U.S. exports in 2013 supported 11.3 million jobs, an increase of 1.6 million export-supported jobs since 2009.
Recognizing that 95 percent of consumers live outside our borders, the Obama Administration is taking concrete steps to make it easier for U.S. companies to begin exporting or expand international sales.
In May 2014, Secretary Pritzker launched the second phase of President Obama's National Export Initiative - NEI/NEXT. Through NEI/NEXT, 20 federal agencies are advancing program and policy improvements to provide exporters more tailored assistance and information; streamline export reporting requirements; expand access to export financing; ensure market access and a level playing field; and partner at the state and local level to support export and foreign direct investment attraction strategies.
These efforts will enable more U.S. businesses to capitalize on existing and potential opportunities created by free trade agreements and the U.S. trade agenda.
This press release was issued on February 5th by the International Trade Administration. Press release source article. Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-4883
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 72 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.
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The National Export Strategy is available also at
http://trade.gov/NEI and http://export.gov.
International Trade Update at
http://www.trade.gov/publications/ita-newsletter/
United States Department of Commerce
Office of Public Affairs - Tel. 202-482-4883
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Must See Video on Global Trade
Click HERE to see the 'Making Hay' video by Dan Gardner of Trade Facilitators, Inc. This multi-industry webinar is a 'must see' for global trade students and practitioners of all levels and World TradeWinds considers it to be one of the most concise and informative webinars on the history, present state and the future of the Global Trade industry there is available today.
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