You may be a student, veteran executive or somewhere in between. Perhaps you work in supply chain, finance, market entry, business development or own your own import/export business.  Whether you work in the public sector, in a private sector company, or work as a consultant, there’s something at our conference just for you.

It’s always fun to get out of the office for a couple of days and do something different, but here are five other reasons you should add this exciting event to your calendar and register to attend ASAP.

1. You’re going to learn a lot – and so will your co-workers

Consider your organization’s specific objectives and priorities, and consider how specific elements of the conference will help meet those needs. Which of the sessions are most relevant to your professional development goals or your organization’s expectations of you? What new skills or approaches will you bring back?

Sessions are strategically focused to help you advance your relationship building skills, develop innovative solutions, reimagine business strategies and leverage emerging trends. Which keynotes or workshops have particular relevance to your organization’s current priorities? Are there sessions that will provide insight into a particular challenge or your organization is facing right now, or expects to face in the next 12 months? Some session examples include The future frontiers of global business, How to take advantage of trade agreements in the 21^st century and From AI to VR: the impacts of the latest technology on your business.

Identify specifically what you can use, and how. These sessions will not only help you in your own work, but help you advance your organization’s long-term goals.

You can also visit our Justification Toolkit to help you explain to your manager or CEO how attending the conference will help you do just that.

When you return to the office, you can then offer to deliver a briefing to your colleagues and/or the management team to share what you’ve learned so that others in your organization will receive the benefits of your attendance, too. Share session takeaways and notes with your colleagues. As a delegate, you will have unlimited and free access to speakers’ materials posted on a password-protected section of the FITT’s website, FITTforTrade.com.

2. Take a step back and re-assess your strategy

The field of international trade is experiencing a period of volatility marked by rapid change. It is difficult to view the ‘forest’ when we’re working at the ‘tree’ level. Your organization needs to anticipate, understand, and adapt to changes both in the policy environment and in professional practice.

Attending FITT’s 25th anniversary conference, Your Future in Global Markets, will enable you to see how the field is changing and build a wide variety of important strategic competencies. As one example, you’ll have the opportunity to assess the pros and cons of various modes of market entry strategies in the Choosing and excelling in your next international market session.

You could also identify the current and future challenges for trade at the Trade is Complicated! Overcoming the unique challenges of global business session, or attend others to evaluate industry trends in the wider global business environment, and examine the future impact of international business on internal operational functions.

3. Meet and talk to industry leaders and professionals face to face

This conference will enable you to meet and interact with hundreds of international businesspeople from both private and public sectors from across Canada and the international community. You will be able to take the pulse of what your peer organizations are talking about and planning for, and how they are accomplishing their specific goal or activities.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so with our opening reception, celebration dinner, lunches and networking breaks throughout the event.

Talking to other professionals in your industry can also spark a lot of new ideas – you never know who might introduce you to a revolutionary new idea, or suggest a way you can accomplish some of your objectives more efficiently or effectively than before!

Even if you’re not the most naturally outgoing person, it’s fun to grab some food or share a drink with colleagues, and chat about your work and life in general. You might get to catch up with friends you haven’t seen in  years, or make valuable new friends and professional contacts along the way.

4. Bring some colleagues and build your entire team’s capacity and connections

The conference will help  your team grow by providing a forum for team members to learn and discuss best practices, new tools, and emerging trends like AI, fintech and 3PL. Doing this together will build a shared knowledge base for applying this information to improve our strategies, programs, processes, and outcomes.

It can also build camaraderie between colleagues, and sometimes being out of the typical office setting is what you need to spark your team’s next great idea.

Planning to attend the conference with one or more of your colleagues? Send us an email at marketing@fitt.ca – we might even be able to get you a special group rate!

5. Showcase your products or services while gathering valuable intelligence

This could be your opportunity to collect first-hand information and to compare competing firms. The conference will showcase international trade experts and companies who may be implementing the tools or services your business uses or is evaluating for potential future use, such as during the Secrets to success master class session.

This is your chance to collect information and evaluate multiple vendors for products, tools, or services you may need all at once, helping you make a more informed decision more quickly. You might even be able to get a business deal started while you’re there, or be inspired to try a new product or service that will improve your business.

Will your company be hosting or running an event in the near future? Attending a conference is also a great way to get ideas for your own events, and see what works best.

Now’s your chance to sign up!

Ready to register for the conference? Sign up by September 15 to save with our early bird pricing, and to get a discounted hotel room as part of our reserved block.

Just go to the conference page to learn more about the event, review the list of speakers and the program, and to register to attend the conference. Hope to see you there!

The post 5 practical benefits you’ll miss if you’re not at Your Future in Global Markets 2017 appeared first on Trade Ready.

The lights are on, the cameras are rolling, and the crowd has taken their seats. The packed dining hall waits as four international trade experts are welcomed onto the stage by their host.

A recent iPoliticsLIVE event held in Ottawa, Canada, June 20 brought together industry experts to discuss current and future challenges facing Canadian businesses engaging in international trade.

Canada has a long history as a trading nation. But with a shifting trade landscape, what barriers will exist for Canadian exporters moving forward? This, along with questions on NAFTA and Canada’s relationship with China, were just some of key highlights from this discussion.

Catherine Clark, of Catherine Clark Communications, moderates the ‘Barriers to Growth’ panel and welcomes each of the panelists as they take their seats.

Mark Warner and Peter Clark, experts in international trade law, took their seats to the left of the stage as Bodhi Ganguli and Alexander Malaket, CITP, experts in international trade finance, took their seats to the right.

When the panelists settled in, the titular question of the discussion is brought forward.

What, in your opinion, is the biggest barrier to trade growth?

After a moment of thought, each panelist is given an opportunity to answer. The panelists cited protectionism and risk as the key barriers slowing Canadian businesses entry into international markets.

“The two biggest barriers to trade right now are protectionism as well as limits to domestic imagination,” said Mark Warner, Canadian American trade lawyer for MAAW Law. “We need to open up to new markets but we also must get more imaginative with the markets we are already engaged with.”

“Mindset is a barrier,” said Alexander Malaket, CITP, Founder and CEO Opus International Advisory Group, Director.

More education is needed to better prepare professionals for the international marketplace. Trade will always happen. Companies will figure out how to make deals with each other. Education is the key to preparing people to make those deals.”

“The benefits of global trade are far-reaching,” said Bodhi Ganguli, Lead Economist for Dun & Bradstreet’s Country Risk Services. “But the losses are very concentrated. That is a barrier facing Canadian growth.”

“The biggest barrier, in my opinion, is protectionism,” said Peter Clark, President of Grey, Clark, Shih, and Associates Limited. “The U.S. is Canada’s biggest trading partner and all signs are pointing to a modernization of the NAFTA agreement. This will be a barrier moving forward.”

With the topic of NAFTA now brought up, the first of the audience questions prompted the panelists for their thoughts on the subject. With such uncertainty regarding just how extensive the renegotiation would be, attendees wanted to hear the expert’s insights.

What can we expect in upcoming NAFTA negotiations?

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen,” said Clark. “America sees NAFTA as Canada taking. They want it to be a more give and take relationship. For the U.S., NAFTA must be a rebalancing of the scales.”

“NAFTA has been tweaked before,” Clark continued. “What we need to know now is if this will be a tweak like before or a complete renegotiation.”

“NAFTA won’t happen in a vacuum,” said Ganguli. “There is a global move away from multi-lateral trade to bi-lateral trade. Despite this current trend though, globalization isn’t going away. Product lines are now global. Consumers are now global.”

NAFTA needs to be a fact-based discussion,” added in Warner. “To showcase the benefits of NAFTA, we need to start laying the groundwork at home. We need to not just be promoting its benefits to the U.S., but to Canada as well. We need to expand our domestic imagination.”

“We need to consider the long-term nature of the Canada – U.S. relationship as well,” said Malaket. “Trade exports are extremely important to Canada.”

Are Canadian businesses prepared to do business with China?

Next the discussion dove into the practical challenges of doing business in China. Judging from the panelists answers, it was clear doing business with China will be a learn-while-we-go situation.

“How do we trade with China?” asked Warner. “Businesses have little to no experience working in China. Businesses need to be allowed to try and fail over and over, in order to find success.”

“More education would prepare businesses,” added Malaket.

“While education will always be needed,” said Ganguli. “Supply chains are always improving. They will always move faster than education. A shift in how we do things will be needed.”

Should Canada be diversifying its trade partners?

Given the recent political turmoil in the United States, there has been a great deal of uncertainty regarding Canada’s future dealings with its biggest trade partner. The audience leaned in to get the experts’ take on Canada’s trade future. The panelists recommended expanding Canada’s trading partners, touching on how to best work with the U.S. moving forward, and how Canada should approach its exports.

“You can’t get talent for free. If you want more Canadians working in the U.S., Canada has to give the Americans something. We have to give if we want to get,” said Warner.

“There is an inherent laziness because Canada has always relied on the U.S.,” said Malaket. “We need to diversify our partners, if we want to grow. There are tremendous opportunities beyond America.”

“Canada should absolutely be diversifying in terms of partners. When picking new partners, a trade credit is one way to show if one country is a better option than another,” said Ganguli. “The more data you have, the more strategic you can be. Businesses need to be factual and be agile.”

We need a major shift in Canadian policy in terms of agriculture,” said Clark. “We need to be supporting farmers to be exporting to other countries. There is a great potential and the opportunity for the Canadian agriculture sector.”

Do Canadian companies have all the tools they need to be successful in the global market?

The discussion panel ended by shedding a light on the deficits Canadian businesses are facing moving forward. Drawing on their expertise, Ganguli and Malaket offered their advice for Canadian businesses.

“Canadian companies need to be strategic,” said Ganguli. “And the way they can do that is by collecting information. The more data you have, the more proactive you can be at starting a growth strategy.”

“Financing is also an issue,” added Malaket. “A lack of financing is the most difficult issue exporters face, especially in the services sector.”

With that, the panel discussion comes to an end. The topics covered in this brief but ambitious discussion reflected the changes already upsetting the status quo for Canadian trade and businesses. Outside forces are pushing Canada to be more creative and strategic in taking advantage of all the global opportunities available to Canadian businesses.

What do you think? How prepared is Canada for the coming changes in international trade? Let us know in the comments down below.

The post Can Canada compete in the global market? The experts weigh in appeared first on Trade Ready.

Business events can be a great place to network, learn, and enjoy an exciting few days with people who work in your industry. Because of this, it’s always wise to stay informed about the best upcoming business events. Here are the top 5 events that global business professionals won’t want to miss in the coming months.

1. IANA Intermodal Expo

September 17-19, 2017 | Long Beach, CA

 At the IANA (Intermodal Association of North America) Intermodal Expo, thousands of business professionals in the transport industry will be in attendance. The expo will include a networking breakfast, educational sessions, exhibitor product demonstrations, and keynote presentations. Educational sessions will cover topics such as “The Future of NAFTA and North America’s Trade Lanes,” “Supply Chain Partners: Serving the Customer,” and “Cloud-Based Solutions to Intermodal Challenges.”

The IANA Intermodal Expo also covers many other important industry topics including ocean carriers, railroads, shippers/BCO’s, technology vendors, 3PL’s, equipment manufacturers and leasing companies, motor carriers and drayage companies. This conference is therefore ideal for anyone who is looking to learn more about, or to make connections within, the intermodal industry.

2. World Business Forum 2018

May 30-31, 2018 | Sydney, Australia

With a focus on bringing together great business leaders to discuss global business ideas, technology, and insights, this event is a great opportunity for CEOs and executives.

The World Business Forum will feature a number of high profile speakers. This year’s list included the likes of Ariana Huffington, Jimmy Wales, and Daniel Goleman, and next year’s event already has Sir Ken Robinson, Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Chris McChesney on its list speakers. Sessions also offer Q&A opportunities for attendees to ask questions to these esteemed experts.

This event is also a premier networking opportunity, with over 2000 senior executives expected to be in attendance, and offers an exclusive learning experience for anyone able to attend.

3. 18^th Annual Global Export Finance Conference

September 12-14, 2017 | Barcelona, Spain

Billed as “the only global conference dedicated solely to the export finance community,” this conference is an ideal event for anyone working in international business.

The conference’s main attractions include global pavilions, roundtables hosted by various national export credit agencies (ECAs), a business lounge, and star speakers such as former BBC business correspondent Nils Blythe and Vicky Price, former joint head of the UK Government Economic Service. There will also be a conference networking app, and an under 30’s workshop.

Other speakers at the conference include Tony Lindstrom, Director, Customer Finance & Risk, Volvo; Dorus Everwijn, Director, Project Finance, CB&I; Arun Sharma, Chief Investment Officer, IFC; Catrin Fransson, CEO, SEK; and many more.

4. Advanced Forum on Customs & Trade Enforcement

September 25-27, 2017 | Washington DC

A fantastic opportunity for those involved in compliance and export-import regulations, this event is being touted as “this year’s must-attend event for global trade compliance professionals and their advisors.”  

With the strong likelihood that the Trump administration will continue to shift U.S. trade policy, this event is crucial for those wishing to stay up to date on key customs and enforcement policy changes.

One of the primary benefits of this informative conference is that government officials will actually speak at this event. This means that you will be able to get information directly from some of the people who matter the most when it comes to trade regulations.

Agenda events for this conference include NAFTA Focus: U.S., Canadian, and Mexican Perspectives on Renegotiation, Networking Roundtables by industry, Interview with the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (“CEEs”), and a Featured Panel – “Valuation: Latest Shared Perspectives on Importers’ Obligations and International Trends”.

5. Your Future In Global Markets Conference, presented by FITT

October 2-4, 2017 | National Capital Region, Canada 

The Your Future in Global Markets Conference is designed to be THE international business conference of 2017. Your Future in Global Markets will bring together leaders in their fields from around the world to share insights, successes and lessons learned when working in global markets. Join panel discussions and workshops on building global teams, increasing profit margins, mitigating risk and navigating the rapidly shifting sands in international trade.

If you are looking to reach a new level of international business success with a focus on the future, this is the conference for you.

The list of industry leaders who will be speaking at the conference include Richard Bistrong, CEO of Front-line Anti-Bribery LLC, Nicole Verkindt, Founder of OMX Dragon and Dragon on the Next Gen Dragon’s Den, Ed Marsh, Founder and Principal of Consilium Global, Paul Parisi, President of Paypal Canada and many others.

If want to be a high performer, make new connections and learn key trade industry information, you can register here – early bird pricing ends August 31.

Start planning your event schedule to get in on top events

Business events are not only a lot of fun, but also highly beneficial for professionals who want to get ahead in their careers. Getting to a global trade conference may take a little bit of planning and effort, but the rewards for attending these events can be tremendous.

Are you looking to connect with a supplier, partner, or even a mentor? If so, then these conferences can be a great place to do so. Attending the presentations offered at these events can give you access to key insights that can help you grow in your area of work in a condensed period of time. Which events will you attend this year?

The post Top 5 events global business professionals won’t want to miss this year appeared first on Trade Ready.

Export Development Canada is about to embark on their annual “Let’s Talk Exports” tour, and you won’t want to miss it.

Peter Hall, EDC’s Chief Economist will talk about succeeding in the global marketplace amid volatile markets and falling commodity prices.

The tour is designed to benefit businesses involved in product export, financial institutions and various industry associations as well as those servicing the export community.

The idea behind ‘Let’s Talk Exports’ is to provide the Canadian export community with the most up-to-date trends in the global economy, and how they will affect exporting businesses of all sizes, in all sectors.

The main theme of this year’s tour is the volatility that struck global commodity and financial marketing in the beginning of 2016.

Some pressing questions that will be addressed include:

Are the wheels of the world economy getting loose?
Is this the natural point for another global recession, or is the cyclone contained?
And will there be an end to the commodity price plunge?
Is Canada’s winning streak at an end, or are there opportunities to pursue?

The cross-Canada tour will span 11 cities from April 26 – June 1, 2016.

Those unable to attend personally can join the tour virtually via an online webinar that will be held on June 2, 2016. Twitter users are encouraged to join tour by following #LetsTalkExports / @PeterGHallXIII.

This year’s ‘Let’s Talk Exports’ Tour features Peter G. Hall, Vice-President & Chief Economist at Export Development Canada. Peter has over 25 years of experience in economic analysis and forecasting.

He is responsible for overseeing EDC’s economic analysis, country risk assessment and corporate research groups.

During the tour Peter will provide his insight on the current global economy and its effects on Canada, along with forecasts for the Canadian dollar, commodity prices and growth in particular industries.

Will you be attending one of this years events? Let us know what you think and send us your event photos, comments.

The post EDC goes on ‘Let’s Talk Exports’ Tour appeared first on Trade Ready.