Workplace Literacy Programs:
Investing in a Changing Workforce
The English Skills Learning Center, a non-profit agency
which serves refugees and immigrants in Salt Lake City,
has a 20 year record of providing relevant and
meaningful English language instruction in this setting.
Their professionally certified staff members develop the
materials and methodology that meet the most urgent
needs of workers, and teach at a pace that fits the
educational background of their students. Read more
below...
Students are assessed on their knowledge of English
during an intake interview process, are pre-tested, and
given a follow-up test after approximately 60 hours of
instruction to measure progress. The workplace literacy
classes are typically small classes held two times a
week for 1 hour. Students demonstrate significant
motivation to succeed when their employer has sponsored
the class and allows paid time to attend the class.
For more information about how you can invest in the
success of your non-English speaking employees, contact
the English Skills Learning Center at 801-328-5608 or
visit
www.eslcenter.org. |
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Republic of Hungary
Establishes Honorary Consulate in Utah
Utah and Hungarian Economic Development Organizations Sign
Memorandum of Understanding
On February 19, between 5:00-5:30
p.m., the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
and The Hungarian Investment & Trade Development Agency (ITD
Hungary) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding
facilitating quality trade and business relations between
the State of Utah and Hungary. Hungarian Ambassador Dr. Ferenc Somogyi, Consul General
Balazs Bokor, Peter Gomori,
Director for the Hungarian National Tourist Office, and
Geza Vass, Consul for Commercial Affairs will be in
attendance. This signing kicks off the Ceremonial Opening
the Honorary Hungarian in the state of Utah.
As part of the program, Utah’s own George Simon
will be sworn in to the office of Honorary Consul for the
Republic of Hungary.
The ceremonial festivities will feature musical
performances by Jómóka (pronounced yo-mo-ka), a local
group of Americans who perform traditional village dance
music from Hungary. Other attendees include: local
business and industry leaders, church and government
officials, academic leaders and local Hungarians.
GOED Extends EDTIF Incentive Offer
to
Disney Interactive Studios
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Business
Development Board met today and approved an Economic
Development Tax Increment Financing (EDTIF) incentive for
Disney Interactive Studios, the interactive entertainment
affiliate of The Walt Disney Company.
The post performance
incentive is based on a rebate of no more than 30% of new
state tax revenue, up to a maximum of $5.25 million over
the next ten years. Disney plans to hire more than 500 new
employees over the next ten years with wages exceeding
240% of the Salt Lake County median wage. New state tax
revenue is expected to exceed $15 million during the same
period.
The Walt Disney Company is expanding its focus on the
creation of video games based on Disney intellectual
properties. As a part of this increased focus it acquired
Avalanche Software and established Fall Line Studio, based
in Salt Lake City, Utah. Disney wants to expand its
internal video game development capacity to capture a
greater share of the rapidly growing video games market.
GOED says the State has a focus on those industries where
Utah has a natural or developed advantage over other
states or regions of the country in economic development.
Computer animation is a part of the Software and
Information Technology targeted economic cluster for Utah.
As a part of this emphasis, the Governor’s Economic
Summit, which will be held March 20 at the Grand America, will address
“The Consumer Media Explosion” during one of its education
sessions. Experts from Avalanche Studios and other firms
will discuss the business of video games, film and
cross-over media. Those interested in attending the Summit
can register at www.utahsummit.com. |
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As our fellow Globalist readers will see, Utah is hosting more and more international guests, events and dignitaries. Just this coming week alone we have distinguished guests from Hungary (Ambassador on Feb 19-20), Colombia, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office (Feb 20), experts on trade financing (Feb 21) and experts on logistics (Feb 22). Details
for participating in any of these events are listed in the
calendar section of Global Utah, or for more specifics, please call Layne Palmer at World Trade Center Utah at 801 532 8080 or
lpalmer@wtcut.com.
Those of us of the older generation remember the large sign at the Jimba’s restaurant in Provo: “If Jimba’s can’t turn you on, you ain’t got no switch.” Well, if all these upcoming events don’t get you interested in the benefits of international business, we’ll work on getting some new switches!
Thanks for your support, ideas, encouragement, example, and successes in global business and education.
Lew Cramer
President and CEO
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How to Franchise Your
Enterprise Abroad
February 19 - Global Law and Business Forum
presents “International Franchising: How to Franchise
Your Enterprise Abroad” with Lee A. Wright. 8 a.m. – 9
a.m.
Are you looking to expand your business overseas by
finding individuals in other countries who are licensed
to sell your product, to implement your system or to
promote your brand? If so, there are some fundamental
considerations and questions, not to mention legal
traps, of which you must be aware. This presentation
will address these important concerns, and many others,
related to franchising your enterprise abroad.
Wright is currently associate general counsel for Mrs.
Fields Famous Brands, LLC, with responsibility for
addressing all international franchising matters for the
company.
Seminar location: Kirton & McConkie, P.C., 16th Floor
Eagle Gate Tower, 60 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City.
Please RSVP to Carole Hymas at (801) 321-4809 or
chymas@kmclaw.com.
Continental Breakfast will be served. Parking: Kirton &
McConkie will validate parking at the Joseph Smith
Memorial Building.
Third Annual Hispanic Marketing Conference
March 5 - Businesses interested in tapping into
the $5 billion buying power of Utah's exploding Hispanic
market would do well to attend the Third Annual Hispanic
Marketing Conference, to be held March 5 at the Salt
Lake Hilton, downtown.
Sandra Plazas, vice-president of HMC La Agency, which is
hosting the event, says this is the #1 conference for
businesses interested in creating or expanding their
Hispanic marketing initiatives. She adds that the
regional Hispanic market is an enormous resource just
waiting to be tapped and the Hispanic Marketing
Conference is designed to help businesses use
non-traditional marketing to effectively reach the
Hispanic audience. Read the Economic Development
Corporation of Utah's
newsletter for more information about this event.
Utah-Chile Mining Seminar
March 10 - The Governor’s Office of Economic
Development, International Trade and Diplomacy Office is
pleased to invite you to the Utah-Chile Mining seminar
in Salt Lake City, Utah. The aim of the educational
seminar is to provide Utah companies with information on
how to do business in Chile, strengthen business
relationships with Chilean organizations like CORFO
(Chilean Economic Development Agency) and PROCHILE
(Chilean Trade Commission Los Angeles), and provide
information and exchange experiences in the mining
industry in terms of exploration, safety, environment
and trade. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hilton Salt
Lake City Center, 255 South West Temple, Salt Lake City.
(Breakfast and lunch will be provided)
More information...
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Gutierrez Touts Sweet Success of a Record Year for Exports in 2007
During a trade rally at the U.S. Chamber, Commerce Secretary
Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that U.S. exports for 2007
reached record-breaking levels and stressed the need to
continue export momentum by opening new markets and
passing the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.
Colombian goods such, as Valentine’s Day flowers, come
to the United States duty free, while U.S. products that
support the flower industry face tariffs upon entering
the Colombian market. The Colombian flower industry
supports roughly 230,000 American jobs.
Read more...
Trade World Utah
The February issue of Trade World Utah Newsletter is
online here.
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Visit Wikitravel.org Before Your Next Trip
If you are familiar with Wikipedia.org, the wildly popular Web encyclopedia
created and maintained by thousands of volunteers, you may be interested in the
new "Wikitravel". It has articles on just about every
destination you can think of. Written by travelers, the articles offer common
sense tips and advice, including information about
restaurants, transportation, lodging, attractions, and much more. |
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“On Valentine’s Day, it’s worth noting that Colombia,
our partner in a pending free trade agreement, sent the
United States roughly a quarter billion dollars worth of
cut roses last year – flowers that many Americans are
happy to give and thrilled to receive. Opening markets
and growing trade, however, help Americans not just on
this special day, but year round. Today, the Commerce
Department released foreign trade date for all of 2007
showing that foreign sales of U.S. products were over
$1.6 trillion last year."
--
U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab
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The Global Utah
newsletter
is published as a service of World
Trade Center Utah and Exoro International.
World Trade Center Utah offices:
175
East 400 South, Suite 609
P.O. Box 11, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Tel: (801) 532-8080 | Fax:(801) 532-8982
Exoro offices:
Crandall Building, Suite 300,
10 West 100 South,
Salt Lake City UT 84101
801.537.0900 Office |
801.537.0901 Fax
Email us
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Feb. 15, 2008 Vol. 2 #5
Turkey
Export.gov's Market of the Month
The Republic of Turkey’s movement toward membership in
the European Union is creating momentum to adopt
European business regulations and standards in Turkey,
thereby making it easier to sell and conduct business in
this market. Similarly, reforms since 2001 have created
a strong and stable economy that attracts foreign
investment, which in turn will be followed by
desperately needed capital improvements and demand for
new products and services.
Read more...
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Country: Argentina
Argentina is a relationship-driven culture, so it is
important to build networks and use them. Argentines
maintain and use an intricate network of family and
friends to call upon for help, favors or assistance. If
a favor is done for you, you will eventually be called
upon to re-pay it. Name-dropping and nepotism do not
have the negative connotations as it has in the West and
can be used to your advantage.
Read more...
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How to Conduct an IP Audit
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization
“If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. Perhaps
the above-mentioned expression is the single most
compelling reason for any company, particularly an SME, to
conduct an intellectual property (IP) Audit. But what
should be measured and how can we begin the process?
Read more...
Protecting your Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in
China
Source: U.S. Embassy, Beijing
Since joining the World Trade Organization, China has
strengthened its legal framework and amended its IPR laws
and regulations to comply with the WTO Agreement on
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS). Despite stronger statutory protection, China
continues to be a haven for counterfeiters and pirates.
Read more...
Ease of Doing Business
The World Bank has an interesting
map that depicts the ease (or difficulty of doing
business in 178 countries. Click on color markers to learn
more about each economy.
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- Feb. 16: 2008 Annual Convention of Chinese Association for Science and
Technology, USA, Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main Street, Salt Lake City, 2:30
p.m. to 8 p.m. Register online at:
www.castut.org. Registration fee: CAST-USA Members $20, Non-members $40.
For more information about the convention,
contact Bill Jiang
(billjiang2000@hotmail.com, 801-556-7800) or Xiaoming Sheng
(xiaoming.sheng@hsc.utah.edu.
For more information about CAST-USA, please visit
www.castusa.org.
- February 19: Global Law and Business Forum presents: “International
Franchising: How to Franchise Your Enterprise Abroad” with Lee A. Wright. 8 a.m.
– 9 a.m. Location: Kirton & McConkie, P.C., 16th Floor Eagle Gate Tower,
60 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Please RSVP to Carole Hymas at (801)
321-4809 or chymas@kmclaw.com.
Continental Breakfast will be served. Parking: Kirton & McConkie will
validate parking at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
- February 20 -- The Governor's Office of Economic
Development, in connection with World Trade Center Utah,
the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce, will present “Colombia Business 2008:
Expanding Opportunities for Utah Companies.”
Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Price: $15 (please bring cash or check to the
event). For
more information, or to register for this event, contact
Adam Walden at
awalden@utah.gov.
- Feb. 21: Tradewin 2008 Import Classification Seminar, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(West Jordan)
- Feb. 21:
International Trade Finance Seminar, February 21, 8:30-11:30 am, Salt Lake
Chamber of Commerce.
- Feb. 22: World Trade Association of Utah and World Trade Center Utah
invite you to a “Global Trade Logistics: Roadmap for Success” luncheon with John Brockwell.
Where: Little America Hotel & Towers, 500 South
Main Street, Salt Lake City
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm (lunch provided)
Cost: Non-Member rate: $30.00 (to include both
the presentation and lunch). For paid members the cost
depends on your membership status. For membership
information, please e-mail
wtaofutah@gmail.com.
RSVP: Jennifer at the Global
Management Center (801) 422-6495 and be ready with your
1) Name, 2) company, 3) email address and 4) phone
number, or email this information to
wtaofutah@gmail.com.
All RSVPs are due by 5 pm on February 20. Any
cancellations after Wednesday or failing to attend the
meeting will result in an invoice for the cost.
- Feb. 27 -28:
24th Annual Information Technology Seminar, USU
- Feb. 29: Management/ Supervisory Skills for a Cross-Cultural
Workforce™, with Carolyn Andree, Ph.D., of Andree Intercultural Training, Inc.
When: 9:00—5:00, Friday, February 29;
registration 8:30—9:00; lunch on your own 12:30—1:30.
Where: Salt Lake Community College, Miller
Professional Development Center, 9750 South 300 West,
Sandy.
Online registration:
www.andreeintercultural.com
Cost: early bird rate $195 if registration received by
2/15/08; regular rate $220 after 2/15/08
- Mar. 4: UCCD Lecture: Business for Diplomatic Action, 7 p.m.
Location: Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory on the campus
of Westminster College 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City. Free and open to
the community. Presenter: Keith Reinhard, founder and president of Business for
Diplomatic Action. Go to
www.utahdiplomacy.org or call 801-832-3272 for more information.
- Mar. 14 - April 30: Sudan: The Land and The People. In partnership with
the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy
welcomes a Meridian-traveling photographic exhibition on Sudan. Opening
Reception: March 14, 6 – 9 pm. Gallery Hours: Mon – Thurs 6 am – 9 pm and by
appointment. For more information, please visit
www.wvc-ut.gov or call (801) 966-3600.
- Mar. 20:
Governor's Utah Economic Summit
- Mar. 24: "Global Capital and Labor in the 21st Century," 7 p.m. lecture
at the Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory on the campus of
Westminster College, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City. Free and open to the
community. Presenter: Dr. Lant Pritchett, professor of the Practice of Economic
Development at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Go to
www.utahdiplomacy.org or call
801-832-3272 for more information.
- Apr. 7 - 8: (in LA) Asia
Pacific Business Conference. For questions or general inquiries, contact: Jeff Hamilton, Asia Pacific
Team Leader, U.S. Commercial Service - Salt Lake,
801-255-1872 or email:
Jeff.Hamilton@mail.doc.gov.
- May 13-15 and Aug. 19-21 -- Gian Zini, executive
education faculty in the David Eccles School of
Business at the University of Utah will be teaching a
program on "Strategizing, Implementing, Financing,
Managing & Consulting International Expansion."
Click here for more information.
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Advertise in Global Utah
Does your business or organization offer a product or
service to Utah's global business community? Now you can advertise in
Global Utah, the best resource for Utah-related international trade
information. Call now for more information: (801) 814-4219 or (801)
440-6380.
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and will not share or sell your personal information with any other
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newsletter, we may, however, send you additional emails, such as
notices of special events or business information which may be of
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