Taking the Outer-Island Business International

Posted by DavidDay on Oct 22, 2013 in Export Development, Hawaii & Pacific Islands, International Business, International Business Education, Our Media | 0 comments

Jenny Takemoto
Asia Pacific Hawaii
Maui,Hawaii

The outer-island business faces some unique challenges in any drive to expand its markets outside of the U.S. Where does it go for assistance or guidance?  How does it keep up with the educational opportunities frequently available only in Honolulu? What about the additional shipping challenges that it has to wrestle with?

Broadcast throughout the Hawaiian islands and streamed globally, Ms. Jenny Takemoto, a Maui-based international export consultant with Asia Pacific Hawaii engages in an educational, tip-filled conversation with David Day. An unusual part of this discussion is the wholly different mindset required of the outer-island business and the pro-active, forward-looking strategy that is ultimately required for success.

Business: Going International–The Critical “How To”

Posted by DavidDay on Sep 20, 2013 in Blog, Export Development, Hawaii & Pacific Islands, Indonesia, International Business, International Business Education, Intl Business in Asia, Our Media | 0 comments

There are all kinds of challenges that a small or medium-sized business faces when contemplating a move into a new market overseas: problems with payment, shipping, customs & duties, cultural barriers, distribution and marketing nightmares, taxes, local management/partner problems, customer service, language barriers, corruption possibilities, different methods/style of doing business, and on and on.  For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, these challenges can be so daunting that the business is frozen and stagnates within its smaller domestic market.

Richard Swanson
Director, Pacific South Region
U.S. Commercial Service

It does not have to be this way. The trick is to understand the tools available for free or very little cost to the entrepreneur and small/medium sized business through the U.S. Commercial Service.  An enterprise entering new business mileu needs both business market intel as well as front-line, “on the dirt” experience in the new, target market,  both in initially putting the deal together and later in assisting on the back end should problems or misunderstandings develop.

Hosted by Asia in Review’s David Day, here is a candid and educational conversation with Richard Swanson, the Director for the Pacific South Region of the U.S. Commercial Service, which includes not only Hawaii and the Pacific Islands (Guam, American Samoa, Saipan, etc), but also the Southwestern states of California, Nevada, and Arizona.

During the course of this discussion, Mr. Swanson walks the business owner through the “how to” steps of using the U.S. Commercial Service to get underway successfully in new markets overseas. He discusses how to prepare for and then set up the “face-to-face” approach with USCS pre-vetted potential partners/dealers/distributors. In addition, Mr. Swanson talks about the “trade show” approach, and how to effectively tackle both the international and domestic trade shows with the assistance of the USCS.

Finally, Mr. Swanson and David Day talk about an example of a successful Hawaii company, Oils of Aloha, that partnered with the USCS several years ago and has been breaking into new market after new market ever since.

This show was broadcast on radio and television throughout the Hawaiian & Pacific Islands and then streamed globally.

New Construction coming: Hawaii’s Foreign Trade Zone

Posted by DavidDay on Jul 26, 2013 in "Renewables" - Solar, Wind, Hydro, Photovoltaic, Energy, Export Development, International Business, International Business Education, Intl Business in Asia, Our Media | 0 comments

      Mr. David Sikkink outlines the history and purpose of the foreign trade zones in the United States, describes the customs duty and tax advantages for a business and then talks about the setup option of remote, and even individual, Foreign Trade Zone sites to accommodate the needs of a particular business. Mr. Sikkink then describes the coming August 2013 construction of new offices and a new executive education facility on the Mauka end of the Foreign Trade Zone near Ala Moana boulevard right across from Restaurant Row. Mr. Sikkink explains that this new construction as an integral part of the new, “one-stop shop” concept for international business which the Foreign Trade Zone now has underway with exporting companies, customs brokers, shippers, and all kinds of educational training for both goods and services exporting firms–all under that one, big roof across from Restaurant Row.

      The conversation turns to a linkage of this new educational facility with the downtown business community using the pedestrian bridge that HPU will be constructing to allow foot traffic to cross over top of Nimitz, linking Fort Street Mall, the Bishop Street business community and the new HPU facilities at Aloha Tower–with the new education facility at the Foreign Trade Zone, a short distance away. The discussion turns to the revitalization of the entire Pier 2 area with cruise ship traffic being shifted from Aloha Tower over to Pier 2 and the coming development of commercial venders to service the incoming cruise ship tourists in the Pier 2 area (on the makai end of Channel street).

David Sikkink
Acting Adminstrator
Hawaii’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 9

     Finally, the show conversation shifts to FTZ’s giant roof and the phase 2 construction plan to develop a substantial photo-voltaic system on the FTZ roof to lower its operating budget as well as serve as a giant marquee for the State’s renewable energy expertise and programs.

     This television show, hosted by David Day, features M. David Sikkink as its special guest. Mr. Sikkink is the Acting Administrator for Hawaii’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 9.

Pacific Forum CSIS & Its “Diamond” Linkages for Business Executives in the Asia Pacific Region

Posted by DavidDay on Aug 24, 2011 in All Southeast Asia, China, Critical National / Regional Security Issues, Export Development, Foreign Policy/Geopolitics, International Business, International Business Education, Intl Business in Asia, Japan, Korean Peninsula, Military, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Our Media, Pacific Forum CSIS, PRC/China, Regional Security/Flashpoints, South China Sea Claims, South Korea, Taiwan | 0 comments

David Day hosts Pacific Forum CSIS‘s President Ralph Cossa and its Executive Director, Brad Glosserman in this television broadcast which covers some of the key macro issues now facing the Asia Region. This program also unveils the “Best Kept Secret” among business executives dealing with Asia, Pacific Forum, and the show examines the “why” and “how” of mining Pacific Forum’s knowledge and relationship “Diamonds.”