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Published in U.S. 1 Newspaper on June 7, 2000. All rights reserved.
Global Trade 2000
Global trade is at the forefront of the state’s agenda
as well as the nation’s, as shown by Governor Whitman’s recent 11-day
tour of Asia with representatives from such New Jersey corporations
as AT&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Becton Dickinson, Bell Atlantic, Merck,
Prudential, and PSE&G. The Pacific Rim countries contribute more than
$3.4 billion to the state’s overall economy, according to the governor’s
office. Sales to Korea amounted to $910 million last year, and sales
to Japan generated nearly $2 billion. Among the products were electronic
and electric equipment, transportation, and chemical products.
Export is critical to New Jersey’s economic well being, suggests the
governor, and last year New Jersey export sales reached $22.7 billion,
the ninth highest in the nation. “Nearly 600,000 people are employed
in New Jersey as a result of imports, exports, and foreign direct
investment,” says Governor Whitman.
This month the governor initiated a partnership with the Export-Import
Bank of the United States, a federal agency that helps finance the
sale of United States goods and service, to help New Jersey companies
reach new markets and increases sales internationally. The New Jersey
Commerce and Economic Growth Commission will market Ex-Im programs,
which offer financial services such as loans, guarantees, and insurance
programs.
Fostering more global partnerships will be the focus
of “Global Trade 2000: Opportunities and Challenges,” a conference
at Raritan Valley Community College on Friday, June 9, from 8 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. at the Advanced Technology Communication Center in Somerville.
Call 908-526-1200, ext. 8235 Cost: $60.
The keynote, Rick Savone, Canadian Consul and Trade Commissioner,
speaks on “NAFTA and Its Implications on New Jersey Trade,”
at 8:45 a.m. George Melloan, deputy editor international of
the Wall Street Journal, speaks on “Global Trade: Why We Should
Care About It,” at 12:30 p.m. The conference also includes the
following workshops:
At 9:45 a.m., “Export/Import Success Story,” with JohnLefkus , Kullman Industries, Roger Cohen, SBDC, and JanisLewandowski, GPU Energy.”Increase Your Sales Through Market Research,” with JosephWaters, Hoffman International, Barbara Amen, Ballantrae InternationalLtd., and Leigh Ann Carlin, NeoStrata Company Inc.”Partnership for Success: Developing International Partnerships,”with Jay Ghose, Lucent Technologies, Eugene Slowinski,Alliance Management Group, and Dick Meisenbacher, Baden-WestGroup.At 11:15 a.m., “Getting Started Globally,” with MaryBeth Pittinger and Betsy Cling, Chubb & Son, Bill Matuza,Equitable Adjustment Service Inc., and Jay Willer, PNC Bank.”Patent Rights & Intellectual Property,” with Michael Mercantati,Brian Wamsley, Herold and Haines, and Fred Howlett, Tectonic.”Virtual Trade Mission,” with Valerie Rasines, Lucent,Ray Chimileski, Virtual Learning Network, and Rodney Stuart,U.S. Commerce Department.At 1:30 p.m., “Doing Business in Asia: Singapore, China,& Japan,” with Steven Tsai , Guang Tai International.”Doing Business in Europe,” with John Coiregan, theIrish Trade and Technology Agency for Development, and BarbaraAmen, Ballantrae International Ltd.”Opportunities for Partnerships in South and Latin America,”with Jose Gomez-Rivera, New Jersey Commerce Department, andWilliam Black, Raritan Valley Community CollegeA reception with consulate generals and door prizes will be held at3 p.m.A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Savone majored in economics andbusiness at McGill, and worked in government before being recruitedby the Canadian Foreign Service. He served in Algeria, where he wasresponsible for political and immigration programs, and came to Princetonthis year. Like two previous consuls, he lives at 90 Westcott Roadin Princeton Borough (609-252-0777, E-mail: rick.savone@dfait-macci-ge.ca)and from there he operates what is considered the satellite missionof the Canadian Consulate General in New York (www.canapple.com).Because New Jersey’s riches are in the brains of its scientists, Savone’sexport/import efforts will concentrate on areas of biotechnology,information technology, and environmental technology.He will discuss the effects of the NAFTA agreement. “We will lookback at the past five years of NAFTA to ask if it has been a success,”says Savone. “It has been a success for all three partners. Wehave seen astronomical trade growth in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.over the past 5 and 10 years. In terms of investment it has been avery positive period for Canada, for laying down the ground rulesand building a structure.”Success stories include trade increases in chemicals and plasticsplus some of the companies of the “new economy” and the biopharmaceuticalupstarts growing rapidly in Canada. They are attracting interest frompotential partners in New Jersey — investors, researchers, andthose who do market development and commercialization. “We havea vast network of research, an excellent scientific base,” saysSavone. “And we have governments eager to attract investment,whether through tax breaks or research and development initiatives.Also our legal system, our competitive intelligence/property protectionsystem has always been of interest to American pharmaceutical firms.”In addition to concerns over environmental effects, many Canadiansfeared there would be job losses. “That didn’t pan out at all,”says Savone. “In Canada, where we expected to see job losses wehave seen dramatic increases in competitiveness.”Savone says that U.S.-based companies are studying whether to setup operations in Canada. “Costs are dramatically in favor of thebusinesses, and the pool of available labor is also attractive inCanada.”He cites a KPMG report saying that Canadian business costs are sevenpercent lower than U.S. costs. As for the notorious Canadian healthinsurance payments, they constitute only nine percent of the GrossNational Product, versus U.S. health insurance costs of 14 percentof the GNP.”We also have an immigration policy that is more flexible. Weare the only other country besides Australia to have a policy —a point system — that actually tries to match immigration goalswith economic internal needs.” The Canadian government has a listof occupations that are needed at any given time. “When someoneshows up at an embassy around the world, if they are educated andskilled in a field that our economy happens to be lacking then, wewill look upon that application favorably,” he says. “It isan organized approach to immigration rather than a lottery.””Like the United States, Canada and Australia are built on thesweat of immigrants. This allows us to be a little more flexible thanin Europe,” he says.Top Of PageCathy Frank-WhitePower lunches at a chamber meeting can be intimidatingfor the small business person who doesn’t know everybody. And mostsmall businesses aren’t well-enough staffed so the boss can go cavortingaround the county going to meetings.Cathy Frank-White, newly installed president of the Mercer CountyChamber of Commerce and the first woman president in the chamber’s135-year history, has another approach: She goes to them. “I’vebeen here only three months, but I am trying to give prospective memberspersonal attention. If anyone calls here, I will go out to them andspend some time telling what the chamber can do for them,” saysFrank-White. “I’ve been encouraged by the new members we havebrought in, many because of the personal attention they get.”Frank-White is the featured speaker at the Mercer Chapter of the NewJersey Association of Women Business Owners on Tuesday, June 13, at6 p.m., at the Palmer Inn. Installation of officers will also be heldthat evening. Cost: $29. Call 609-924-7975.Top Of PageBusiness DirectoryMercer County Chamber’s Year 2000 Business-to-BusinessDirectory is hot off the presses, with over 3,250 qualified MercerCOunty prospects. The book is available both in print ($58) or disk($395). Call 609-393-4143.Top Of PageCorporate AngelsB>Smith Stratton Wise Heher & Brennan helped theHuman Resources Management Association become incorporated on a probono basis. Richard J. Pinto and Priscilla Maye Kugelof Smith Stratton helped revise by-laws and file federal and statedocuments.Johnson & Johnson, founding sponsor of the national SafeKids campaign, is providing free child seat check-ups, first for itsemployees, and later at events open to the general public. The 20-minutecheck-up involves an examination by a trained technician to be surethe seat is installed properly. A recent poll of 185 car seats inNew Jersey found that only five of them were installed properly. Call908-272-7712 for scheduled check-up days or go to www.njsaferoads.com.Susanne J. Kelleher, vice president of First Union ,is the Mercer WalkAmerica Corporate Chairman for the March of DimesCentral Jersey Chapter, and she will present awards to the top 2000Mercer County WalkAmerica schools, corporate teams, and individualwalkers on Tuesday, June 13, at 6 p.m., at the Hyatt. Joel Katz,the afternoon show host of WPST-FM will be the emcee. On April 30,more than 4,000 walkers raised more than $325,000.Comcast will receive the annual Business and IndustryShining Star award at the Mayor’s Shining Star Charity Ball in Hightstownon October 21 at the Ramada Inn. Proceeds of the ball benefit BetterBeginnings, which offers preschool, kindergarten, and after schoolprograms.Previous StoryNext StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
