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Welcome to the Northern California World Trade Center!

The Northern California World Trade Center (NorCalWTC) is Northern California's largest international business organization, affiliated with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) in New York City.  The mission of the NorCalWTC is to facilitate international business in Northern California by offering a one-stop-shop for EDUCATION, RESOURCES, & CONNECTIONS that help businesses succeed in the global marketplace and advance citizen diplomacy.  


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UPCOMING EVENTS: 



GATEWAYCA.ORG COMING SOON!  | REGISTER NOW!
CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FROM GATEWAY CA 2010


 

EDUCATION & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: 

 

 


PAST EVENTS: 
International Trading Partner Series ~ Chile:  Presentation Recap

Gateway California 2010 - The premier export/import forum on the West Coast
  View Pictures From The Event

Consular Corps Luncheon 2010View Pictures | Recap of Speakers | Val Dolcini's Comments |

ITPS ~ China:
Pictures and Recap

 

The Northern California World Trade Center is Finding New Ways to Bring the World to You!

    "We need not only the professional diplomats who serve in our foreign services and represent our countries to one another. We need citizen diplomats."
-Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton

Become a  volunteer for the International Leadership Visitors Program!  APPLY TODAY! 


INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (I.V.L.P)

The NorCalWTC is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the U.S. Department of State to provide local hosting services for high-level foreign dignitaries visiting the U.S.  For members of the community wishing to get involved, there are volunteer opportunities available.  More I.V.L.P information and past delegations.




RECENT & UPCOMING DELEGATIONS - WINTER 2011:
Click here to read about visiting delegations from earlier this year.







FRANCE :  A delegation from France will come to examine programs and initiatives aimed at improving economic performance while minimizing harm to the environment in order to review policies on environmental issues that affect urban communities. In Sacramento the delegation will examine how individuals, community organizations, businesses and local government work together to provide services that address environmental concerns in urban areas.  Additionally the group will work to increase the understanding of the U.S. approach to resource management and sustainable development initiatives, including at the political and social levels.






European Union and Germany : 
Mr. Felix Bloch, General Director for Agriculture and Rural Development for the EU commission is coming to explore U.S. Agricultural issues. The main purpose of Mr. Bloch’s visit is to explore the wine trade and look at some organizations that  address how state government advocates regulate this industry. Mr. Felix Bloch will also visit vineyards and meet with people in the field. In Sacramento , he will examine the state government angle of the wine Industry and explore the wine research field at UC Davis.







France: In April, a group of French delegates, including the Vice-President of Environmental Issues in the French Association of Private Enterprise, the Deputy Mayor of Eco-neighborhoods in Toulouse, the Head of the Office of Eco-Technology and Competitiveness in the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, and the Director of Economic Studies at the COE-REXECODE institution, will be visiting Sacrament to enhance their understanding of the U.S. approach to resource management and sustainable development initiatives at the political and social levels. In order to achieve this goal, they will examine different programs, initiatives, environmental policies, as well as the participation of individuals, communities, businesses and local governments and the ways in which they can collectively work toward improving economic performance, while minimizing harm to the environment.




Multi-regional project:  A multiregional group interested in the issue of Climate Change is visiting Northern California to explore emerging U.S. policies on climate change by learning about various advances in renewable energy sources, markets, research and innovation. In California, they are going to examine state government policies and programs to develop and promote sustainable development, alternative energy use and carbon consumption reduction, state-of-the-art research on climate change and renewable energy and grassroots and non-governmental organizations efforts to raise awareness, to support the related research and develop new programs.




Poland
:  A delegation from Poland will be in Sacramento to gain a better understanding of transatlantic security and U.S. foreign policy. The meetings will provide insights into the U.S. political decision-making process, especially on foreign policy and security issues discussing in particular U.S.-Polish bilateral relations, including issues of mutual concern such as foreign policy, regional security, and the role of NATO. The delegation will also explore how civic engagement through individual citizens, community groups, think tanks and lobbying associations influences policy, and provide government accountability in the U.S.  The delegation will be in Sacramento to share best practices in political party management in the U.S. , including leadership, coalition building, and campaign management and to learn how congressional offices in local districts are organized.






European Union and Italy:  As Assistant to the Director General, Directorate General for Health and Consumers in the European Commissions, Dr. Valletta is responsible for overall coordination of the activities of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers (SANCO) in the fields of food safety, food and veterinary controls, consumer affairs, public health, risk assessment and animal health and welfare. During his visit to the U.S. , he will have the opportunity to meet experts and engage in site visits to gain a better perspective on the way in which food security is intricately linked to factors including: global economic security, environmental security, energy security, and political and strategic security. In Sacramento , Dr. Valletta will focus his attention on wine industry regulation, organic farming and the sustainable agriculture movement.




Columbia
:  A delegation from Colombia will visit Sacramento to examine the relationship between free trade and economic development, as well as political and economic implications for the United States and Latin American countries. In Sacramento the visitors will focus on the impact environmental problems have on quality of life for people around the world dealing with the trans-border challenges presented by global climate change, pollution, overpopulation, deforestation and competition for resources.  The group will also learn about U.S. efforts to protect the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater supplies for a variety of competing uses at local, state, national and international levels. This project will familiarize the participants with the partnership between the public and private sectors that addresses both environmental protection and economic development and will provide a forum for discussing the role of free trade in alleviating poverty and fostering economic and social development in the region.




Mongolia :  A visitor from Mongolia will come to California to discuss US Banking Issues. Ms. Ulambayar Enebish is Senior Supervisor at Mongolbank. Prior to assuming her present position, she served in a number of supervisory positions at the same institution. The purpose of her visit will be to examine the banking system in the United States , including banking and financial sector regulation policy and practices.  Additionally, she will learn about enforcement of prudential regulations by regulatory agencies, anti-money laundering initiatives, and best practices in banking transparency and disclosure.


IN THE NEWS

Recent International Highlights and Points of Interest:

China Boom Beginning to Show Cracks, Analysts Say - China ’s supercharged economy is beginning to slow. And soaring inflation, rising labor costs and mounting local government debt are threatening to weaken growth even more, analysts say. Several economists in China have begun to lower their growth forecasts for this year and next year to about 8.5 percent, from earlier forecasts of 9 percent to 10 percent, while also warning about the possibility of a sharp rise in nonperforming loans at big state-owned banks. The New York Times 
Shanghai to ration electricity due to power shortage - Offices and shopping malls in the Chinese city of Shanghai will be urged to close their doors on the hottest days of the year this summer. The power rationing is necessary due to the country's shortage of electricity. The electricity grid serving China 's financial hub does not have the capacity to meet peak demand the authorities say. BCC 
IMF: Debt crisis ‘threatens to overwhelm’ Europe - The mounting debt crisis in Europe “threatens to overwhelm” the region’s economic recovery and could have a global impact if it damages larger European countries, the International Monetary Fund warned Monday in an unusually stark criticism of Europe’s policies and policymakers. Calling for a major overhaul of how the 17 nations that share the euro govern themselves, the IMF said in a paper that the current crisis might end only when the euro zone comes up with a convincing plan to ensure that economically weaker nations will be supported by the stronger ones. The Washington Post  
GREECE PREPARES TO SELL OFF STATE ASSETS TO GET LOANS - Greece is preparing to sell off billions of dollars worth of state assets including airports, highways, state-owned companies as well as banks, real estate and gaming licenses to meet international lenders' demands that it raise funds.  CNN
JAPAN POSTED SECOND-LARGEST TRADE DEFICIT IN MAY - Japan incurred a deficit of 853.7 billion yen ($10.67 billion) in its trade with the rest of the world in May as exports remained in the doldrums, according to preliminary figures released by the Finance Ministry on Monday.  The Journal of Commerce

IAEA considers nuclear safety rules after Fukushima -The UN's nuclear watchdog is holding a meeting aimed at improving nuclear safety, in the wake of the accident at Japan 's Fukushima plant. Officials from 150 nations are meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offices in Vienna to discuss how to make nuclear more safe. BBC

SWISS STOCKS DECLINE FOR FOURTH DAY AS SYNGENTA, ZURICH FINANCIAL RETREAT - Swiss stocks declined for a fourth consecutive day, extending their losses into a sixth week, as European governments failed to agree on a loan payment to spare Greece from default.  Bloomberg

Somalia : PM Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed resigns - Somalia 's prime minister says he has resigned, following an agreement between the president and parliament to remove him from office. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed had initially refused to step down, but will now go "in the interest of the Somali people". BBC

COMPANIES PUSH FOR TAX BREAK ON FOREIGN CASH - Some of the nation’s largest corporations have amassed vast profits outside the country and are pressing Congress and the Obama administration for a tax break to bring the money home.  The New York Times
Palestinian Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks 'on hold' - A scheduled meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal has been postponed, officials say. Tuesday's talks in Egypt 's capital, Cairo , were aimed at reaching consensus over a new reconciliation government. BBC
CHINA QUIETLY TIGHTENING GRIP ON OFFSHORE YUAN MARKET - China is working quietly behind the scenes to tighten its control of the rapidly growing offshore yuan market, and risks turning off some investors from participating in the market and slowing use of the renminbi in global trade.  Reuters
Robert Gates confirms US-Taliban talks in Afghanistan - Outgoing US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has confirmed that the US is holding "outreach" talks with members of the Taliban in Afghanistan . Mr Gates said talks were "preliminary" but that a political solution was the way "most of these wars end". BBC 
From the Office of Congresswoman Doris Matsui - Last week, the Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration joined together to unveil a new online tool to help small and medium sized businesses begin exporting their goods and services abroad.  At the newly launched www.export.gov/begin, you can find Six Steps to Begin Exporting, which allows businesses to take a self-assessment to gauge their readiness to export.  This is followed by sections on training and counseling programs, resources to create an export business plan, information on conducting market research, assistance for finding foreign buyers, and information on financing options.

During this time of economic recovery, the ability for American companies to manufacture and sell their goods abroad is essential.  However, many companies do not know where to begin when it comes to exporting.  The federal government is working to provide you with the tools you need to begin doing so.  In turn, by supporting businesses here at home, it will provide new growth opportunities, incentives for job creation, and strengthen our regional economy in the short and long-terms.

For exactly those reasons, the House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support my Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, which will promote the domestic clean tech manufacturing industry and also assist U.S. clean tech firms with finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services.  Currently, our country is running a trade deficit in green technologies ranging in the billions, while countries like China and Germany are continuing to make strides in this area. With my bill, we will develop a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy and improve our ability to export clean energy technologies.

Investing in American-made technology and products is a clear path to economic recovery and measurable job growth.  I will continue to work to strengthen our country’s export strategy, and alert you to any tools which may be helpful to your businesses.

For more information on how to begin exporting, visit Sacramento's Export Assistance Center or our local SBA Small Business Development Center. For additional information on my work to promote domestic manufacturing and exports, visit matsui.house.gov/makeitinamerica.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Congresswoman Matsui’s office at 916-498-5600.
Work begins on link between West Sacramento, Oakland ports - Federal Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and public officials broke ground today in Stockton on a project to launch an inland marine highway linking that city's port with those in West Sacramento and Oakland .  In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it was awarding $30 million in stimulus funds to a partnership to launch the project.  The project, called the Green Trade Corridor, aims to develop an eco-friendly water shipping route linking the three ports. Container barge service is being touted as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional freight/cargo movement via rail and trucks.  Officials at the three ports said the route will be used primarily to ship consumer goods and agricultural products grown in Northern California .  West Sacramento officials have said they want to use a portion of the federal funds for a crane and other facilities to handle container cargo at the local port.  Sac Bee
Cargo projects rolling - Transportation officials are creating a regional strategy to increase the volume of cargo moving in and out of the area as part of an aggressive effort to help the economy get back on track.  From land to sea to air, efforts are under way to move more goods more efficiently through and around Sacramento. Projects include improving rail service to McClellan Park , deepening the deep-water channel to the Port of West Sacramento and attracting international carriers to Sacramento’s airports. The hope is to spur economic development with a more cost-effective and efficient transport system. The opportunity in the region is just astonishing,said Michael Faust, president and chief executive of the Northern California World Trade Center.We need to think big, act strategically and pursue bold projects.  Sacramento Business Journal


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