Global Opportunities and New Markets

Exporting U.S. innovation, products and services is a top priority for the Obama administration, and MBDA is putting the spotlight on how minority-owned businesses are growing and thriving overseas so that we can be more prosperous here at home.

Recently, President Obama held an economic summit in Puerto Rico, organized in part by MBDA and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  MBDA National Deputy Director Alejandra Castillo and our partner the Puerto Rico MBDA Business Center were integral in the success of the summit where President Obama’s Task Force on the Status of Puerto Rico made its final recommendations to boost job creation on the island.  The Task Force recommended that MBDA continue to aid job creation and innovation by helping to facilitate public-private partnerships to finance the Integrated Bio-refinery Program.  This program—which aims to create biofuels from sugar cane—will allow America to grow our own fuel and grow jobs at the same time.

This month, the U.S. Census Bureau released the final data from the 2007 Survey of Business Owners (SBO), which offers a wellspring of data on the characteristics of minority-owned businesses in the United States.  One characteristic that is sure to have a profound effect on our efforts to double exports over the next five years is that the minority business community continues to lead in global commerce.

Small businesses interested in starting or expanding sales of their goods and services overseas have access to a new, free online tool that will gauge their readiness to export and help them develop an export business plan.

The Export Business Planner, developed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers a ready-made, customizable and easily accessible document that can be updated and referenced continuously as the business grows.

The Planner, located at www.sba.gov/exportbusinessplanner, allows users to:

As part of MBDA’s ongoing mission to promote the tremendous capabilities of minority-owned firms and the promise of phenomenal growth through exporting and strategic alliances internationally, Director Hinson was the featured speaker at the U.S. Global Business & Markets pavilion on Monday, April 4. View additonal videos at sell-american.com.

National Director Hinson joined Ambassador Philip Murphy, U.S. Assistant Secretary Michael Camunez and Deputy Assistant Secretary Brian McGowan of Economic Development Administration to promote the Obama administration's National Export Initiative (NEI) as well as to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the U.S.

If you’re interested in expanding your business through merger or acquisition, branching out into overseas markets, or just want some insight into international trade laws, plan on attending the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors’ (AM&AA) 3^rd Annual Global Merger & Acquisition Symposium (M&A Symposium) in London, England, May 10^th – 12^th, 2011. This year we’re pleased to announce National Director David Hinson will be delivering the keynote address on Wednesday, May 11^th.

Mission to Encourage MBEs to Expand

A key part of MBDA’s mission is encouraging minority business enterprises to expand their businesses through merger and acquisition and develop strategic partnerships with overseas firms. Many minority entrepreneurs already have strong ties to Asia, Africa and Latin America; and seek ways to solidify these global alliances.  The M&A Symposium offers an excellent opportunity to learn more about these 21^st-century growth strategies while making valuable international contacts.