SBA Leadership to Tout Growth Through Exporting to Small Businesses in Seattle’s Korean-American Community Sept. 7-8
SBA leadership met with Korean small businesses and community leaders to share information about the Sept. 8 conference in Seattle, Washington. Pictured (left to right): Yong Park, President, Korean American Chamber of Commerce, Washington State; David Hwang,
Managing Director, K-Startup Center; Sung Kim, Golden-Tech International; SBA Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator Mike Fong; Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho; SBA Office of International Trade Associate Administrator Gabriel J. Esparza; Alex Choe,
President, CMES Robotics Inc; former City of Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim; and Jason Kang, Manager, K-Startup Center.
Leadership from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of International Trade (OIT) and Pacific Northwest region will give remarks at a day-long exporting conference,
Small Business Growth and Resiliency Through Export Opportunities in U.S.-Korea Trade, Sept. 8, in Seattle, Washington.
SBA has been advancing small business development opportunities through outreach to diaspora communities to encourage these groups to explore exporting to their countries of origin.
“Selling abroad is crucial to small business resiliency. Time and again, we have seen that small businesses selling overseas tend to make more sales, employ more people, and grow at higher rates,” said
Gabriel Esparza, SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade. “Additionally, diversity contributes greatly to entrepreneurial success. The SBA is focused on reaching underserved communities and helping them utilize exporting
as a strategy that leads to economic recovery and greater resilience.”
The Sept. 8 conference is geared towards small business owners or entrepreneurs, principally from the Korean-American community, who already export to Korea and want to expand or are interested in selling to the Korean market.
“With the growing population of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Washington State, the region has seen the challenges that this broader community faced during the pandemic,” said Pacific Northwest Region X Administrator Mike Fong. “SBA
is committed to equity in recovery. Small business exporting has tremendous growth potential, and we are going to help more entrepreneurs go global.”
The conference will be preceded by a reception on Sept. 7. Both events are free to attend and open to the public. More information can be found
here for the reception and
here for the conference.
Read stories from Korean media outlets
Joy Seattle and
Seattle N.
SBA Office of International Trade Out in the Region
(Left to right): Washington State Senator Rebecca Saldana, SBA OIT Associate Administrator Gabriel Esparza, SBA Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator Mike Fong and Export Finance Manager John Brislin at Boon Boona Coffee in Seattle.
SBA Office of International Trade Associate Administrator Gabriel Esparza hit the Pacific Northwest this month where he was joined by Regional Administrator Mike Fong and Export Finance Manager John Brislin. Engagements included coffee with Washington State
Senator Rebecca Saldana at Regional Small Business of the Year winner Boon Boona Coffee. He addressed grantees of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) at the State International Development Organizations conference, where STEP Director Shadetra Robinson
also presented.
(Left to right): Executive Director of the State International Development Organizations Andy Karellas and SBA OIT Associate Administrator Gabriel Esparza. SBA OIT State Trade Expansion Program Director Shadetra Robinson at the SIDO conference in Seattle.
Engaging diaspora communities was also on the agenda as he met with Korean American business leaders in advance of an upcoming exporting event on Sept. 8 at the Port of Seattle. He also gave the keynote address at the Federation of Philippine American Chambers
of Commerce International Trade & Business Development Conference where San Francisco Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer was also a speaker.
(Photo 1): SBA leadership with Korean business leaders. (Photo 2): SBA OIT Associate Administrator Gabriel Esparza, San Francisco Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator Mike Fong, and Ellen Abellera of the Race and Ethnic
Advisory Committee for Bureau of Census.
Sept. 16 Deadline for Comments on U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
On July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya launched the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership. As the two governments develop a roadmap for the initial issues under that engagement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is
seeking public comments by Sept. 16 to develop objective for engagement and subsequent negotiation. More information is
here.
Comments Due Oct. 17 on Artificial Intelligence Export Competitiveness
The Department of Commerce has made it a priority to drive U.S. innovation and global competitiveness in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). Commerce’s International Trade Administration is requesting public comments by Oct. 17 to gain
insight on the current global AI market and stakeholder concerns regarding international AI policies and regulations. Read more
here.
New Resources
Updated Trade Finance Guide Recently Published
The International Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce published the updated online resource, the
Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters.
This concise, how-to guide is for U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises seeking to enter and expand their businesses in global markets while also overcoming common challenges to leverage export opportunities into actual sales.
This easy-to-understand tool was first published in 2007. Experts including SBA’s Office of International Trade National Director of Trade Finance Daniel Pische and SBA Regional Export Finance Director Patrick Hayes contributed to making the 2022 edition possible.
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Small Business Exporters Can Benefit from U.S. Copyright Office Resources
U.S. small business exporters in the creative fields can learn about the copyright relations the U.S. has with other countries
here. If you are exporting a product that may be protected by copyright, including art, media, educational materials, or software, explore how to protect your work and learn about
common copyright misconceptions. Find more resources on protecting intellectual property rights including through recordation at
SBA Trade Tools.
New Edition of Education and Training Services Resource Guide Out Now
The International Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce published the 2022 Education and Training Services Resource Guide, which is an important tool to assist U.S. institutions with identifying new international market opportunities.
It provides a detailed analysis of the education sector in 62 countries, covering trends, demand and more. This new edition contains information on digital marketing outreach strategies and scholarships. More information is
here.
Recording Available from “Developing Effective International Business Strategies for Growth” Webinar
SBA Office of International Trade Associate Administrator Gabriel Esparza hosted the Private Public Strategies Institute webinar on Aug. 17, “Developing Effective International Business Strategies for Growth,” where he interviewed Alejandra Castillo, U.S. Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and Alisa S. Joseph, Director of Programs, U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce. Watch it
here.
Register for Upcoming Events
Resources and Estrategias for Global Market Éxito
August 31, 2-3 p.m. ET
Both English and Spanish-speaking small businesses are invited to hear from small businesses that have achieved global sales success as they share their global experiences. Plus, learn about SBA and U.S. Commercial Service resources that can support export
growth in this free webinar. It will be followed by Q&A in English or Spanish.
Sept. 7 Reception and Sept. 8 Conference
More information
here for the reception and
here for the conference.
Both events are free to attend and open to the public.
SBA leadership will give remarks at this conference that is geared toward small business owners or entrepreneurs, principally from the Korean-American community, who already export to Korea and want to expand or are interested in selling to the Korean market.
The conference will provide attendees with information on exporting to the Korean market, market opportunities, accessing capital to support exports, and resources to help small businesses to export development, including finding buyers.
Learn to Trade: Develop an Effective Export Plan
Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. ET
Join SBA’s Office of International Trade for the next installment of our new Learn to Trade Roundtable Series. This 45-minute webinar will provide an overview of the fundamentals of what goes into an export plan, tips for getting started or refreshing your
plan and how to use one as part of your international sales strategy. We will be joined by experts in export planning for goods and services from SBA’s Small Business Development Center Network.
Discover Global Markets: The Blue Economy
September 20 – 22
Providence, Rhode Island
The U.S. Department of Commerce will host Discover Global Markets: The Blue Economy in Providence, Rhode Island. This annual flagship event on exporting will focus on opportunities related to marine renewables, port technology and services, ocean science and
technology, commercial marine, maritime security and defense sectors and other blue economy sectors this year.
SBA’s Export Finance Manager Joseph Raycraft will be among the presenting industry experts, which includes staff from U.S. embassies around the world. Attendees will be invited to participate in matchmaking meetings among buyers, distributors, government officials
and potential partners.
U.S.-EU Small and Medium Enterprise Workshop
Augsburg, Germany
September 28
RSVPs are accepted on a first-come, first-serve space available basis.
Please email your RSVP as soon as possible with your name, organization, city, and state to
international@sba.gov and no later than September 16, 2022.
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), SBA and the U.S. Department of Commerce are co-hosting the 11th United States-European Union Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Workshop in Augsburg, Germany on September 28 with the European Commission’s Directorate General
for Trade and Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. The workshop is an ongoing exchange bringing small and medium businesses and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic together with government officials to identify
ways to deepen U.S.-EU trade and investment ties and strengthen cooperation on issues of mutual interest to SMEs.
The in-person event, hosted for SME stakeholders from the U.S. and EU only, is an opportunity to hear from and meet officials from the U.S., EU, EU Member States, small businesses, and organizations engaged in supporting bilateral trade by small businesses.
Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses and accommodations. A detailed agenda will be provided to registered participants closer to the date of the event.
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