Last month, Paul Oliva, newly appointed deputy director of the International Affairs and Business Development, California Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) provided the Chamber's Global Initiatives Council with strategies his team is formulating to make California a destination for international investment and a facilitator of trade. Oliva included an overview of the steps his team is taking to establish a California business development office in Shanghai.  

Chamber Senior Vice President of Global Initiatives Carlos J. Valderrama recently represented the Los Angeles Regional Export program at The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Export Exchange. Valderrama shared ideas and programs being implemented in the L.A. region with representatives of nine U.S. cities. The overall objectives of this event were to:
* Give regional leaders practical advice and a road map for developing an export plan, including the development of a draft plan with strategies in four months;
*  Enable regional teams to actively share knowledge and experiences that will strengthen their metro export initiative;
* Provide insights on the state of the global market place and how best to identify market opportunities in today's environment.
Contact Carlos J. Valderrama, 213.580.7570. 

Next year World Trade Week (WTW), an initiative of the L.A. Area Chamber, will be celebrating its 87th anniversary. The most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country, WTW dedicates itself to educating the public on the positive aspects of international trade on the local and national economy through educational programs and events. We encourage you to support this very special program by becoming a sponsor of World Trade Week 2013, scheduled for the first week of May 2013. As a sponsor, your company will have the unique opportunity to integrate its marketing and charitable goals by supporting international trade educational programs and scholarships, while gaining recognition throughout the year. Learn more or contact Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez, 213.580.7569 

Senior Executive Ron Tanner  from The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), will provide an overview of the current trends in the U.S. food market and highlight opportunities available to foreign importers at the annual Winter Fancy Food Show on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
 
NASFT is the preeminent not-for-profit business trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the $70 billion specialty food industry. This meeting is open to members of the Chamber's Trade Commissioners Networking Group (TCNG) only. Register now or contact Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez, 213.580.7569   

TCNG was established to provide the infrastructure and venue where foreign diplomats, including trade commissioners, can develop their own international trade strategies and programs as they perform their professional responsibilities. The Chamber is committed to working closely with countries who are actively promoting trade and economic opportunities.