Panel Discussion Details
Panel I: Picking Up Where Sacramento Left Off
California's international trade infrastructure is at a crossroads. Sacramento's
traditional role in promoting California's global economy will change in the months
ahead as funding for trade development and promotion is scheduled to disappear. In this
uncertain environment, what role should we expect the state government to play in
promoting California's international trade activities? Topics will include:
- Should state government be a facilitator of or an active participant in international trade promotion
- What role should local or county governments play in trade promotion and development
- Are overseas trade offices necessary, and, if so, how should they be operated
- How government can develop effective strategic alliances with the private sector
| Moderator: | Greg Mignano, US Commercial Service, US Department of Commerce | |
| Panelists: | Jock O'Connell, Newspaper columnist and trade consultant Brooks Ohlson, Northern California World Trade Center Association Carlos Valderrama, Carlsmith Ball LLP Joe Harrison, California Council for International Trade |
Panel II: Trade As an Engine of Economic Growth
International business is becoming more and more local in its impact as small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to be the force driving the state's global
economy. As support for trade at the state level diminishes, regional economic
development agencies are playing an increasingly critical role in facilitating and
incubating both first-time and moderately experienced traders.
Topics will include:
- Developing statewide strategic alliances focusing on strengths and common solutions to common problems
- Alternative trade finance; encouraging regions to play on their economic strengths
- How EDCs can assist in restructuring non-competitive companies to become global players
| Moderator: | Wayne Schell, California Association for Local Economic Development | |
| Panelists: |
Rod Balance, Global Trade Center of the Inland Empire Jose Duenas, Bay Area World Trade Center Association Mary Delmege, US Commercial Service, US Department of Commerce Bernie Weiss, Centers for International Trade Development |
Panel III: Identifying Industries for Growth
California is an acknowledged world leader in a variety of industries and industry sectors
including: agriculture; high technology; biotechnology; environmental science; aerospace;
precision instrumentation; electronics; telecommunications; and trade services. By focusing on
its strengths, California can retain its leadership role, while drawing on its abundance of wealth
and expertise in order to maximize its global potential. Topics include:
- Identifying the industry sectors with the most potential for growth in the global arena
- How to better assist those companies already doing business overseas and communicate the advantages of taking a company international to those that aren't
- How to work more closely with national industry sector organizations to promote California as a truly global economy
| Moderator: | Moises Cisneros, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce | |
| Panelists: | Barbara Harley, Silicon Valley International Business Incubator Esther Vicente, California Department of Food & Agriculture Ed Hinkleman, World Trade Press |
Panel IV: Epicenter of the eLogistics Revolution
California boasts an extensive transportation infrastructure with the state's
seaports, airports, and rail lines providing distribution links across the and the rest of the
world. As such, the state serves as a dynamic test-bed for the latest technologies
impacting the flow of goods and services through the seamless global supply chain.
Topics include:
- What projects are planned to increase the ability of the state to handle the forecasted surge of goods that will be moving into and through the state over the coming decades
- What new supply chain technologies are being developed to help California companies connect more effectively with suppliers and markets around the globe
- How third-party logistics providers can act as the logistics arm of companies that can't afford to have their own in-house operation
| Moderator: | Bill Goldsborough, Logistics Alliance Strategies | |
| Panelists: | Beth Peterson, Open Harbor Greg Johnsen, GT Nexus Tim Straw, Visage |
Panel V: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities
Merely cataloging problems is counterproductive and ineffective without ability
to provide viable solutions to those problems. Instead, time is better spent on identifying
the challenges facing California in the changing global economy and capitalizing on the
strengths that our communities and corporations bring to the global trade arena. Topics
will include:
- How to educate state government as to the value and impact global business has on California and the nation
- How California traders can rise to the opportunities offered by the recent spate of free trade agreements including those with Chile and Singapore
- How can California's international business community interact more effectively with government at all levels
- How statewide strategic alliances can be forged to further grow the state's overseas business potential
| Moderator: | Sean Randolph, Bay Area Economic Forum | |
| Panelists: | Hugh Constant, San Diego World Trade Center Howard Shatz, Public Policy Institute Dr. John Husing, Economics & Politics Inc. Jerry Levine, Mentor International |
