trade

World Trade Center-LA CEO Stephen Cheung on Value of Attracting Foreign Direct Investment

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Stephen Cheung

WTC-LA's Stephen Cheung urges increased attention to foreign partnerships and strategic market analysis to ensure Los Angeles remains an attractive and competitive player in the global marketplace.

Prime Minister Abe, Caroline Kennedy, and Penny Pritzker Celebrate Japan-US Trade & Investment Relationship

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Caroline Kennedy

On May 1, 2015, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe ended his visit to the US in Los Angeles, appearing at the Biltmore Hotel for an event organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). VX News presents edited excerpts from the proceedings, beginning with JETRO Chair Hiroyuki Ishige, who notes the positive impact of the prime minister’s comprehensive set of economic reforms known as “Abenomics.” Prime Minister Abe, US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker each give their perspective on the past, present, and, especially, future of US-Japan trade relations, urging private sector investment along with the regulatory framework of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to strengthen the two countries’ mutually beneficial relationship.

Jon Slangerup: Port of Long Beach’s Capital Investments & Clean-Technology Innovations

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Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach in June, Jon Slangerup joins POLB with 34 years of corporate leadership experience—including expertise in aviation, logistics, and clean technology. In agreeing to head a seaport that moves $180 billion worth of trade annually, Slangerup faces logistical and technological hurdles that the port must overcome. In this interview with VerdeXchange News, he discusses current infrastructure challenges and improvements at the Port of Long Beach, efforts to green operations, and POLB’s relationship with the Port of Los Angeles. He also remarks on POLB’s economic health and awareness of growing global seaport competition.

LA’s Mayor Appoints City’s First International Trade Director, Stephen Cheung

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In August, VerdeXchange News sat down with Stephen Cheung, the Mayor of Los Angeles’ first Director of International Trade, to discuss the purview and mission of his new position, which liaisons between the Port of Los Angeles, LAX, and City Hall. With trade being a critical component of the LA regional economy, and with the infrastructure of trade constantly evolving, Cheung works for goods movement, logistics, storage, and transportation to operate as smoothly as possible to retain customers doing business in and through LA. The potential growth of ethanol trade with Brazil serves as an example of how LA is making strides to adapt.

Glenn Williamson Lauds Arizona/Canada Business Nexus and Water Opportunities

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VerdeXchange News interviewed Arizona entrepreneur, CEO, investor and philanthropist Glenn Williamson, Chairman of EPCOR Water USA, a Canadian-based utilities company that has now come to Arizona. Williamson is also Chairman of the Canada Arizona Business Council, which aims to increase bilateral trade between Canada and Arizona to $5 billion by 2014. He discusses both organizations and their objectives for Arizona, including better management of water supply and demand through the application of data analytics; the economic value of Canada investments in jobs and technology; and future prospects for Arizona business and sustainable initiatives.