Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2007

BY TONIA SHAKESPEARE

Local businesses will have the chance to learn how to take advantage of the regional and international market through import and export at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever World Trade Week event, Brooklyn Goes Global International Trade Day & Symposium: “Beyond Borders: Creating Opportunities in the Global Marketplace”. The day long program being sponsored by the Chamber’s Brooklyn Goes Global initiative, a marketing, promotional and educational program, is being held in cooperation with Touro College Graduate School of Business on May 21.

World Trade Week NYC, is a program of the New York District Export Council that promotes trade through a non-profit trade community made up of state and government agencies, chamber of commerces, educational institutions, and other organizations, the expo will feature dynamic speakers, informative seminars and hands-on workshops that will educate the business community about the rapidly growing international trade market.

The event is expected to attract an estimated 500 people to the Touro campus, located at 1602 Avenue J in Midwood, including representatives from organizations like the Malaysia Trade Commission, Vietnam Trade Center and City Trade Development Group. These and other organizations will discuss conducting business abroad and foreign trade trends. Attendees will learn the steps necessary to expand their business internationally, find international partners, and identify products being sought from overseas markets. Exhibitors including Spadaro International, Azania Holdings and Calabar Imports will also be on hand to disseminate information.

As a partner organization on the committee for World Trade Week, Brooklyn Goes Global was able to successfully facilitate bringing this dynamic trade show to Brooklyn. “Brooklyn Goes Global is trying to help people involved in importing and exporting, and to help them expand what they’re doing,” said Steve Kaplansky, BGG director. “Our concept in expanding our borders is to do more. The market is crowded and we have to find places to sell more,” said Mr. Kapplansky, who credits Chamber Member Touro College for hosting the event.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is also participating in the International Trade Day at Touro College. With 3,300 loans to small business exporters in 2006, the SBA provided $1 billion dollars in export loans last year. In fact, 25% of U.S. business growth is now attributed to exports. In 2004, 23 SBA loans totaling $2.2 million were made in New York City. In 2006, that number increased to 31 loans totaling $4.6 million. “The New York office is leading the country as far as goal attainment for export loans, with 36% so far this year,” said John Miller, international trade officer for the New York District Small Business Administration.

To assist small business owners in entering the international trade game, the SBA has an Export Assistance Program (EAP) that offers training and counseling to over 10,000 small businesses as well as trade partnership programs. “We fund resource partners and refer businesses to the best partner,” said Mr. Miller. “We can’t refer to an individual bank, but we can say that this particular lender makes export loans.”

“I think this trade show is really going to help give business owners useful information, and if they’re already involved in doing international trade, this will help them synergize — get new ideas,” said Mr. Kaplansky. “And if they’re thinking of going into it, then it will give them tools of what to do and what not to do.”

For more information or to register for the Brooklyn Goes Global International Trade Day & Symposium, call 718-875-1000, ext. 104 or go to http://www.ibrooklyn.com/ and click on the "Chamber Events" page.