ND Global News - New US Asst. Secretary of Commerce visits ND, Internship Updates, NAFTA seminar and more

 

ND Global News - October 2017
Newsletter of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, North Dakota

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- U.S. Asst. Secretary of Commerce & Director General Erin Walsh Makes ND & MN First Field Visit
- Unmanned Aerial System Leaders Awarded by U.S. Dept. of Commerce for Attraction of Foreign Investment to ND
- Kekoura Sakouvogui Joins the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo
- Bryan Starner Departs the U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota
- Export Assistant Internship Now Available
- Seminar on NAFTA with Mike Allocca - October 2017
- One Small Step for Your Company & Big Steps Forward for America
- Norwegian Ambassador Kåre Aas to visit Grand Forks - October 30-31

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Trade Remedy Corner: Commerce Focuses on Bio-diesel Imports

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
- 2nd videoconference on Uzbekistan's Agro Sector - November 10
- The 2018 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference (SHOT Show) - January 23-26

WEBINARS
- Best Practices for Working with Education Agents - November 14
- Selling Food into the European Union: What you Need to Know as a US Company - November 9
- Peru Needs Companies Like Yours To Help It Rebuild - October 27

 

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

Superior Grain Equipment Tour
(L-R: Tom Shorma, Jon Engelstad, Erin Walsh, Regina Heise, Heather Ranck)

New US Asst. Secretary of Commerce & Director General Erin Walsh Makes North Dakota and Minnesota Site of First Field Visit
Assistant Secretary for Global Markets & U.S. Commercial Service Director General Erin Walsh chose North Dakota and Minnesota as the first locations to visit after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in late August. On October 11, 2017, she, along with Regina Heise (Regional Director of  the U.S. Commercial Service Midwest), Heather Ranck (Fargo Office Director and Rural Team Leader), Tom Shorma (Chairman of North Dakota District Export Council) and Joseph Mwagura (Export Assistant) facilitated visits that included a tour of Superior Grain Equipment in Kindred, North Dakota, a Grand Forks roundtable at UND discussion focused on the ND Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Cluster, and a roundtable of 6 local exporters that had used in-depth market research services at NDSU in Fargo, followed by a reception hosted by the ND District Export Council. The Director General had many questions, and gave her input on the business as well as how the U.S. Commercial Service could further benefit their companies when exporting products. The ND UAS cluster was featured in a USA Today article on the very day the DG visited. Click here to read that article.

Awardees: (L-R: Terry Sando and William Paulin)

Unmanned Aerial Systems Leaders Awarded by U.S. Department of Commerce For Attracting Foreign Investment to ND
The U.S. Commercial Service & Select USA (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce) presented the University of North Dakota Center of Innovation Foundation and Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) with special recognition for their success attracting foreign direct investment into the region's emerging unmanned systems cluster, one of the prominent high tech clusters in a rural state. Assistant Secretary Erin Walsh, Lt. Governor, Brent Sanford and North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Jay Schuler presented the awards as part of the roundtable held on October 11. The UND Center of Innovation Foundation 's technology is home to more than 20 unmanned aerial systems-related companies, mostly entrepreneurs or international companies working to establish themselves in the emerging marketplace. The Grand Forks UAS entrepreneur cluster is larger than any other accelerator, incubator or entrepreneur center in the nation. William Paulin, entrepreneur in residence at the UND Center for Innovation Foundation, and Terry Sando, former UAS Sector Senior Manager for the EDC, were recognized for their collaboration with the State of North Dakota and the U.S. Commercial Service to attract international interest in the Grand Forks region’s UAS ecosystem. For the full article on U.S. Commerce awards recognition please click here. 

Kekoura Sakouvogui joins the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo
Kekoura Sakouvogui joined the U.S Commercial Service in Fargo as an Export Assistant during the Fall semester of 2017. He is a third year PhD student in the Statistics Department and a second year M.S in Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department at NDSU. His academic and current research interests include methods in data mining and machine learning algorithms, efficiency analysis in the finance and agriculture sectors, methods of data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier analysis. Kekoura's current thesis build on the concept of efficiency by evaluating the impact of 2007-2009 financial crisis on the banking sectors. He offers a rare combination of analytic and creative skills in research design and statistical analysis. He holds a M.S in Applied Statistics from NDSU and a B.S. in Mathematics from Quincy University. Before commencing his current position as an Export Assistant, Kekoura worked as an Economic Research Intern at the U.S. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington D.C. with the Monetary Affairs Division. Kekoura speaks French and grew up in Guinea, West Africa with two siblings Kaissa and Victor. 

Bryan Starner Departs the U.S. Commercial Service /North Dakota
Bryan Starner, a recent Finance graduate of Minnesota State University, worked for the U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota and the North Dakota District Export Council from April 2016 to October 2017 as an Export Assistant. Bryan has now joined the Botlink Inc. business team, using market research skills learned as an Export Assistant.

Export Assistant Internship Position Now Available
The U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo is currently seeking an intern. The position is a professional position. The student will assist the North Dakota Trade Specialist in preparing market research, analyzing company-by-company prospects in different markets, liaising with partner organizations, managing events, updating databases, and increasing export volume for North Dakota. For more information visit https://2016.export.gov/northdakota/internship/index.asp   

Seminar on NAFTA with Mike Allocca - October 2017
A group of business representatives for North Dakota and Minnesota companies participated in a seminar led by Mike Allocca on October 17, 2017 regarding NAFTA and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) compliance. Topics covered included learning how to determine if a product qualifies for NAFTA, using NAFTA Rules of Origin (Annex 401). In addition to that the seminar covered an overview of the existing FTAs and highlighted the preference criterion A-F. Finally the seminar highlighted the importance of supporting documentation and understanding the formulas for determining regional value content or tariff shift, fungible goods and materials / De Minimis; and HS tariff classification.

One Small Step for Your Company Big Steps Forward for America 
The Greater ND Chamber's September 2017 "Business Report" publication featured an article authored by CS North Dakota's Heather Ranck. A key challenge facing would-be exporters is is the scarcity of reliable trade intelligence on markets. A basic starting point for American firms is to develop an export plan or strategy that identifies where there is already demand for their products. The US Commercial Service addresses these issues with its user friendly market research and analysis tools that help exporters stay up to date with international trade trends, abreast of competitive conditions in their foreign markets, improve their selection of export markets and customers and analyze markets in-depth and grow their international presence over time. Read the GNDC Report on Business (September 2017 issue, pages 5-7) for more information on the market research process. 

Norwegian Ambassador Kåre Aas to visit Grand Forks North Dakota 
The Norwegian Ambassador Kåre Aas will be visiting Grand Forks to discuss the country's energy and technology presence in the U.S. and North Dakota. The focus of the seminar is job-creation in the U.S. and North Dakota. 

Date: October 30-31, 2017
Location: Grand Forks
Please click here for the full report on this seminar.
To request to participate in the seminar, please contact Heather.Ranck@trade.gov 

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Trade Remedy Corner: Commerce Focuses on Bio-diesel Imports
The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. The possibility of striking agreements suspending those duties with both countries is left open. Last year imports from Indonesia valued at $268 million were hit with duties of 50.71 percent. The $1.2 billion imports from Argentina, will face duties of 54.36 percent to 70.05 percent. Click here to read the full announcement.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

2nd videoconference on Uzbekistan's Agro Sector 
The American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce invites U.S Companies to join the 2nd videoconference on Uzbekistan's Agro Industry. The conference is joint effort by the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce to address Uzbekistan's needs and interests in improving its agricultural processing, storage and transportation solutions. This video event offers excellent opportunity for B2B exchange, learn more about Market Access and Logistics in Uzbekistan and establish contacts.

Date: November 10, 2017
Time: 8:00 am - 10:00 am (EST)
           5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Tashkent)
RSVP by Tuesday, November 7, 2017.
Please click here to register.

The 2018 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference (SHOT Show)
The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for professionals who sell products related to the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. In partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the U.S. Department of Commerce is excited to offer U.S. exhibitors at the 2018 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Tradeshow and Conference services to assist in entering or increasing their presence in global markets. For more information please click here.

WEBINARS

Best Practices for Working with Education Agents
Please join the US Commercial Service Education Team for a webinar on Best Practices for Working with Education Agents, and learn how to cultivate and engage agency partners to maximize your recruitment strategy. 

Date: November 14, 2017
Time 12:30-1:30 pm (EST)
Webinar - From your desk
Registration fee: $25
For more information and to register please to click here. If you have questions, please contact, Joan.Kanlian@trade.gov

Selling Food into the European Union: What you Need to Know as a US Company
Accessing markets in the European Union (EU) is crucial for US companies, but also the safety of food is of critical importance to these markets. Primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with food law and in particular the safety of food rests with the food business operators. The European-American Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the US Department of Commerce work to keep markets in the EU open and trade flowing through a variety of specific assistance. Please join the Global Agribusiness Team for a webinar on Selling Food into the European Union and learn how your company can prevent the undesirable non-compliance consequences.  

Date: November 9, 2017
Time 12:00-1:30 pm 
Webinar - From your desk
For more information and to register please to click here.

Peru Needs Companies Like Yours To Help It Rebuild
Please join the U.S. Commercial Service for a webinar on Peru Needs Companies Like Yours To Help It Rebuild and learn how your business can position itself to take advantage of $7.5 billion in reconstruction investments in Peru.  
Date: October 27, 2017
Time 10:00 am -12:00 pm (EST) 
Fee: $50
Location: Virtual
For more information click here. To register use this link. 

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Your U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota Office 

	Heather Ranck Office Director, USDOC Rural Team Leader and International Trade Specialist Ph: 701-239-5080 Email: Heather.Ranck@trade.gov
	Joseph Mwagura Export Assistant Ph: 701-239-5033 Email: Joseph.Mwagura@trade.gov
	Kekoura Sakouvogui Export Assistant Ph: 701-239-5033 Email: Kekoura.Sakouvogui@trade.gov

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US Commercial Service | United States Department of Commerce | 811 Second Ave. N | Suite 436 | Fargo | ND | 58102