Posts By Tom Hanson

Commerce Department’s EDA Grants Help Exporters Rebuild, Retool

Stepping up to aid Gulf Coast companies impacted by the BP oil spill, the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) consistently assists export companies in towns nationwide. An announcement by the Department of Commerce on June 18th detailed the release of eight grants for the Gulf region totaling $10.27 million – most forRead… Read more »

US-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Boon to California

California exporters, their employees, and supporting businesses will benefit from a Free Trade Agreement between the US and South Korea in 3 ways: 1) Intellectual Property Protection: Software, music, film, videos and publications that originate in California will be better protected than ever before from piracy, through more stringent regulations once this FTA is passedRead… Read more »

Mobile Journalism: Information Flung Far & Wide

The third installment in my series on how mobility and the Internet are up-ending traditional commercial models focuses on journalism. (see earlier posts on Online Education and Mobile Banking) Here, we track affordable mobile telephony that informs citizenry in sparsely populated, under-educated, and under-developed communities worldwide, in lieu of print news; and video-enabled community volunteersRead… Read more »

Getting Paid for Latin American Sales: What US Exporters Should Know

A large and abundant market awaits US exporters in Latin America. Although the combined GDP of Brazil and Mexico alone stands at over $1.5 trillion, US companies approach the region with skepticism. Real and perceived risk in financing and payment issues is a common reason for placing Latin American markets in third-place when expanding globally,Read… Read more »

Cali Baja Shines at Mexport

Mexport is an annual trade show in San Diego — a great, one-day snapshot of www.calibaja.org“>Cali Baja’s economy, a term that describes the greater economic zone between Baja California in Mexico and San Diego and Imperial Counties in California. Services in global transportation, manufacturing and assembly reflect the impetus of the local economy and theRead… Read more »

May is World Trade Month

As a big advocate of global trade, here’s my pitch for readers everywhere to get involved in World Trade Month. Scan the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s excellent website for a calendar of nationwide events on building global trade, and get going! Boise … Cedar Rapids … Miami … The Big Apple … Northern Kentucky orRead… Read more »

Mobile Banking: Reaching the Next 3 Billion

Street-level innovations in mobile money are sparking advanced, mobile banking business plans… a catalyst for providers of banking and telecommunications to reach the remaining 3-or-so billion humans who don’t own a mobile phone (1 in 2 of us, roughly). The personal, convenient nature of mobile phones – which, according to Jan Chipchase, Nokia’s chief usabilityRead… Read more »

Filling Gaps in US Commerce Department Leadership

President Obama has filled two vital leadership posts in the US Department of Commerce, announcing the appointment of a new Under Secretary for International Trade, and a new Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration and head of the Bureau of Industry and Security. Eric L. Hirschhorn, the nominee for Under Secretary of Commerce forRead… Read more »

National Export Initiative: Boon for US Exporters

President Obama’s State of the Union address last month yielded a windfall for those companies who earn their way in foreign trade, and for those federal agencies who support their cause. The goals of our new National Export Initiative include doubling American exports over the next five years and supporting up to two million jobsRead… Read more »