Brooklyn's Progress
June 2004

Brooklyn Goes Global (BGG) partnered with 24 other organizations as part of the World Trade Week Annual Conference for 2004.  The convention was held in New York.

The World Trade Institute of Pace University, which spearheaded this annual event held May 17 to 21, did a magnificent job under the leadership of Chair Donna Sharp.

Randolph Peers, Vice President of Economic Development and Steve Kaplansky, Marketing Consultant for BGG participated in this growth of the new world economy on behalf of BGG and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
 Several major issues which were discussed in depth included “Growth in the New World Economy,” “Safety and Security at Home and Abroad,” to issues of “Managing Financial Risk in Transitional Economies.”

One of the keynote speakers was Dennis A. Simmons, Commercial Attaché for the Caribbean Region.  Mr. Simmons was so intrigued by the work of BGG and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, he asked if he could come and speak with some of our BGG partners prior to his departure from New York back to the Dominican Republic.

Within two days, the Brooklyn Chamber put together a meeting on Friday, May 21 for Mr. Simmons and his colleagues, Abigail Cadle and Fernando Sanchez, to speak with a variety of Brooklyn businesses on the new export markets in the Caribbean.  He presented to the group the incredible opportunities that exists in the Caribbean.  With approximately 26 markets, a total population of 23.7 million and total imports of nearly $30 billion, the Caribbean market certainly cannot be overlooked.

The discussion later moved into the upcoming trade show in the Dominican Republic, which will take place in October presented by the United States Commercial Service Caribbean Division.

Brooklyn businesses that were represented included Tower Isles Frozen Foods’ Patrick Jolly and Abraham Amgad, Hoskie Co.’s Glenn Ho and Geoffrey Tieng, Allan Zipper Manufacturing’s Barbara Paskowitz, American Bio-Med Institute’s Carl Reid, PicturePlay Productions’ Edie Thomas and Howard Clarke, along with several others, were amongst the list of attendees. 

Una Clarke, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Community Network Office also attended the meeting.  She has been working closely with Mr. Kaplansky and the BGG program to develop a trade mission to the Caribbean.

For more information on BGG’s export programs please contact Steve Kaplansky, BGG Marketing Consultant at 718-875-1000 ext. 104, or at skaplansky@brooklynchamber.com.