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News

WTC leaders meet with Head of Business at Derry & Strabane District Council (Northern Ireland) in Philadelphia

5/8/2017

 
On Monday, May 8, Linda Conlin, President of World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) and Chief Operations Officer Dino Ramos, met with Kevin O’Connor, Head of Business at Derry & Strabane District Council in Northern Ireland to discuss mutual trade and investment opportunities between Northern Ireland and the Greater Philadelphia Area.
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Also, present during the meeting were Joseph Burke, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Business and International Development for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Siobhan Lyons, President of Citizen Diplomacy of Philadelphia.  It was agreed that officials from Derry & Strabane District Council would look to include the Greater Philadelphia area during their November 2017 visit to the Northeast USA.  After their November visit, the Derry & Strabane District Council plans to bring a trade mission of Northern Ireland international business executives to Greater Philadelphia area.

Image (L to R): Linda Conlin, Kevin O'Connor, Dino Ramos

Transport High-Efficiency Alliance Calls Port of Philadelphia

4/19/2017

 
PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY PRESS RELEASE
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The arrival of the M/V YM ESSENCE marks the maiden voyage

In photo — (L to R): Todd Brown, Holt Logistics; Justin Lee, Asst. Vice President, Port Representative, Yang Ming (America) Corp.; Capt. Chia-Tien Tun, Vice President, Logistics Group, Yang Ming (America) Corp.; Eric Holt, Holt Logistics; and Joseph Fox, Marketing, Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 19, 2017 - THE Alliance made its first call to the Port of Philadelphia’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal (PAMT) this morning as part of its Northern European, AL1 (Atlantic Loop) service. THE Alliance, short for Transport High-Efficiency Alliance, is one of three major shipping alliances. The shipping lines who make up THE Alliance include: Hapag-Lloyd, K-Line, Mitsui OSK, NYK and Yang Ming. “This is extremely significant”, said Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) CEO Jeff Theobald. “This gives Pennsylvania and regional exporters more options to get to Europe. Most of these lines have never had direct container service into the Port of Philadelphia.”

​The arrival of the M/V 
YM Essence with a capacity 4,600 TEUs (containers), is the first call by these lines under the vessel sharing agreement known as THE Alliance. Shippers now have additional options for cargoes originating to and from North Europe. Years of growth in the number of distribution centers/fulfillment centers located in the Lehigh Valley and central Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware have resulted in a major distribution hub in the Port of Philadelphia’s backyard.
​​In November 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a $300 million Port Development Plan which will more than double the container volumes moving through Philadelphia. “This new service validates what we have known for a long time. Philadelphia is a more efficient supply chain option for major beneficial cargo owners (BCOs)”, said Jerry Sweeney, PRPA’s Chairman.​

Ports of call for the AL1 will be: Philadelphia, New York, Halifax, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, London Gateway and Norfolk.
​
“Every Wednesday Philadelphia area shippers can now depend on competitive weekly service to/from North Europe”, said Thomas Holt Jr., President of Astro Holdings, Inc. (the lessee of PAMT). “It’s great to have a carrier like Hapag-Lloyd and the partners calling the Port of Philadelphia again from Europe.” The last time Hapag-Lloyd called the Port of Philadelphia with a European service was the late 1980s. “It’s important to note that Hapag-Lloyd and Yang Ming are current customers of the PAMT from other trade lanes. This new string will solidify them as main stay customers in the port and bring new carriers into the community.”

Ocean carriers form alliances to reduce costs, mostly by sharing vessels.  Recent industry consolidations have resulted in several new alliances and THE Alliance is one of the most important. “As THE Alliance partners work in the Port of Philadelphia and see our efficiencies, we are optimistic they will want to introduce new additional services here”, said Miriam Borja-Fisher, President of the World Trade Association of Philadelphia.

​​
Source (philaport.com) ​

Israel’s Amazing World Rankings

4/17/2017

 
Israel’s Amazing World Rankings
By Sherwin Pomerantz President, Atid EDI Ltd. and Authorized Trade Representative (ATR) for Pennsylvania for the Eastern Mediterranean
Originally posted online at atid-edi.com
​It is nothing short of amazing that a small, young country with just over 8 million people in existence for only 69 years can rank so high on so many international comparative indices.  Talk about punching above one’s weight, Israel is a prime example.
 
For example, the World Economic Forum’s 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report ranked Israel as the 2nd best place for innovation in the world after Switzerland.
 
A recent ranking of universities worldwide by MIT, found that Israel’s Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is #1 in the world among universities that support innovation. 
 
Last week, the New York-based data firm CB Insights, issued a report that shows that Israel has the second highest concentration of cyber-defense companies in the world after the United States. 

​Cyber-defense companies in the report covered a range of subsectors including quantum, encryption, deception security, automobile security, Internet of Things security, cyber insurance, mobile security, autonomous systems, critical infrastructure security and predictive intelligence.  The CB report identified the top 30 companies worldwide which included three Israeli firms, Argus (automobile security), Illusive Networks (cyber protection using deception technology) and Indegy (protection of critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks).  Between them they have raised $78 million from investors, including Microsoft Ventures and Bessemer Ventures.

Israel also holds a worldwide leadership position in the digital health sector.  The sector in Israel grew significantly in 2016, both in terms of funding and the number of companies, with investments jumping almost 30% to $183 million in 2016 over 2015, according to a report released by the nonprofit organization Start-Up Nation Central. 
Cyber-defense companies in the report covered a range of subsectors including quantum, encryption, deception security, automobile security, Internet of Things security, cyber insurance, mobile security, autonomous systems, critical infrastructure security and predictive intelligence.  The CB report identified the top 30 companies worldwide which included three Israeli firms, Argus (automobile security), Illusive Networks (cyber protection using deception technology) and Indegy (protection of critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks).  Between them they have raised $78 million from investors, including Microsoft Ventures and Bessemer Ventures.
 
Israel also holds a worldwide leadership position in the digital health sector.  The sector in Israel grew significantly in 2016, both in terms of funding and the number of companies, with investments jumping almost 30% to $183 million in 2016 over 2015, according to a report released by the nonprofit organization Start-Up Nation Central. 
 
Personal health tools and health analytics accounted for over 70% of deal volume in 2015 and 2016 within the overall digital health sector.  The health analytics subsector, focused on companies that collect and analyze data to solve medical problems for businesses and consumers, received the most funding in the past two years: $84 million in 2015, 59% of total investments, and $58 million in 2016, 32% of total investments.
 
Considerable funding in 2016 also reached the clinical workflow subsector, which includes companies that enable hospitals, clinics, labs, and other healthcare stakeholders to work more efficiently.  This sector received investments of $55 million, or 30% of total investments. The wearables & sensors subsector also received $46 million, or 25% of total investments, in 2016.
 
The report went on to state: “Israel’s unique capabilities in information, communication, mobile, and cyber technologies, together with more than 25 years of expertise in implementing health IT, electronic medical records, and business analytics, offers Israel the opportunity to become a truly influential player in the global digital health arena.”
 
Indeed, Israel has made great strides as a small, young country, not to mention the fact that it operates in one of the most politically volatile regions in the world with a host of nearby countries sworn to its destruction.  Israel’s accomplishments to date prove that size, age, location and other classification criteria do not determine a country’s level of success or advancement.  They also highlight the fact that Israel has developed innovative and entrepreneurial strengths with the capability of greatly impacting the global economy.
 
For those companies who have not yet realized the business opportunities present in Israel, the time is now and our firm, Atid EDI Ltd., with 25 years of business development experience in the country, is uniquely positioned to assist.
​
Sherwin Pomerantz is president of Atid-EDI Ltd., an economic development consulting firm with 24 years’ experience in assisting overseas companies and public entities in their export promotion and foreign direct investment attraction efforts.

Time to Go to Cuba, According to Our Speakers

4/10/2017

 
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“Now’s the time to go to Cuba!” Richard Roffman, Publisher, Cuba Trade Magazine told attendees at our Cuba Trade Seminar. According to Roffman, Cuba is bustling with new energy and welcome not only tourists, but also new US business opportunities. 

On April 10th, the WTCGP partnered with the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department to present a seminar focusing on trade possibilities with Cuba. Over 40 attendees packed the Innovation Lab at the Municipal Services Building to get first-hand information on what’s currently happening in Cuba since President Obama lifted sanctions. 

Additional speakers included Ruben Ramos Arrieta, Minister Counselor, Economic and Trade Office, Embassy of Cuba and via teleconference, Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce. 

President Linda Conlin Attends 48th Annual WTCA General Assembly in Las Vegas

4/5/2017

 
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​The 48th Annual WTCA General Assembly in April was hosted by World Trade Center Las Vegas. WTC Las Vegas is one of the busiest facilities in the world and is the only destination in North America with a WTC on the campus of a world renowned convention center. 
 
The 3-day event, “Connections for Global Opportunities” emphasized the strength of the WTCA network through shared information on leadership, positioning, operations, and revenue generation. Linda Conlin, led a discussion on the economic impact of WTCGP, with a special focus on our role as a leading Regional Export Network partner for the State of Pennsylvania’s OIBD Program. President Conlin also connected with World Trade Center Nanjing, China  and World Trade Center Noida, India to discuss future member collaborations. 

WTC Review | Philadelphia Spring 2017

3/14/2017

 
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A Message From The President
Linda Mysliwy Conlin

I recently had the opportunity to discuss the importance of trade with Mexico with Business Editor, Fabiola Cineas of Philadelphia Magazine. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce,  the Greater Philadelphia Region was the 12th-largest exporter in the country in 2015, with Mexico the Region's third-largest export market behind Canada and the U.K. In fact,  Mexico also represents 13 percent of all the companies WTCGP has assisted over the last ten years.  
The WTCGP is committed to helping our client companies access opportunities in major markets like Mexico - especially during this transitional time for global trade policy.  The bottom line is: free and fair trade drives our economic growth and creates jobs in our region.  Click here for Philadelphia Magazine story.

If you attended our Global Business Conference on March 1st, you will understand why it received such positive reviews.  In short, there was no better time to hold a conference touching on the challenges and opportunities of trade.   Again, many thanks to all of our expert speakers who delivered in-depth content, leaving our audience wanting to hear more.   Read the summary in our newsletter and click on our photo gallery to learn more. Click here for photo gallery.

As Spring approaches, it also signals the time of year for our Annual World Trade Centers Day Awards and Celebration.  After 9/11 the World Trade Centers Association, in cooperation with the United Nations, chartered a day in May for all World Trade Centers to celebrate "World Trade Centers Day," to honor global peace and prosperity through trade. On May 11th at the National Constitution Center, we will gather the international business community and once again honor a global business leader and two member companies for their global vision, achievement and contribution to making Greater Philadelphia a world-class region. 
I am delighted to announce that Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware has been selected to receive our 2017 Global Business Leadership Award. Our 2017 New Jersey Member Company of the Year Award will be given to Destination Maternity of Moorestown, NJ,  and DFT of Exton, PA, will be receiving our 2017 Pennsylvania Member Company of the Year Award.  Our congratulations to all our award recipients!  I invite you to attend and celebrate with us on May 11th!  Click here to register.

WTC REVIEW | PHILADELPHIA SPRING 2017
​Follow WTCGP updates, member highlights, trade and event announcements, special reports, and more with the latest WTC Review.​

View WTC Review | Philadelphia Spring 2017 Online
wtc_review_philadelphia_spring_2017.pdf
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Throughout the year, we remain committed to providing you with informative and timely programs to support your global success. Please refer to our calendar of events and join us for our upcoming events on China, Mexico and Cuba, among others.

We  also hope to hear more from you. Follow us on social media and if you aren't already a member of the WTCGP, please consider joining.

Sincerely,

Linda Mysliwy Conlin
President,  World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia
​

This post updated Tue March 28 2017 11:08 AM EDT - Fitzpatrick title incorrectly stated as President and CEO.

Commerce Secretary Announces Billion-Dollar Fines Against Chinese Firm

3/8/2017

 
Watch: The Biggest Trade Penalty Ever
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Announces Billion-Dollar Fines Against Chinese Firm
Global Trade Magazine

​Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. announced yesterday that ZTE, a Chinese telecommunications concern, has agreed to a record-high combined civil and criminal penalty of $1.19 billion, after illegally shipping telecommunications equipment to Iran and North Korea in violation of US law.

Read More (via globaltrademag.com)​

More than 15 years in the making, Port of Paulsboro receives its first shipment

3/6/2017

 
More than 15 years in the making, Port of Paulsboro receives its first shipment
​​Mar 3, 2017
Joe Hernandez
​Newsworks
As President Trump works to come up with a plan to create jobs, he may want to look to Paulsboro, New Jersey. The blue-collar town due east of the Philadelphia International Airport is opening a 200-acre shipping port, the first major port to be built on the Delaware River in the last 50 years.
PictureEMMA LEE / WHYY A crowd gathers at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal to welcome the first ship to dock at the new port, carrying a load of steel.

​With a giant steel ship as their backdrop, local officials who braved the windy weather Thursday said the port would be an attractive location to shippers and spur economic growth in South Jersey.
​
"I hope I don't offend anybody," said Mayor Gary Stevenson, hinting at the Trump phrase he was about to employ, "but I believe this port will make Paulsboro great again!"
Port officials said most of the 100 workers on the docks right now live in Gloucester County, and they claimed that the port could employ a thousand workers as more customers sign on.
​
Go to Newsworks.org for details on the port's first customer.

In US, Record-High 72% See Foreign Trade as Opportunity

3/2/2017

 
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By Art Swift
FEBRUARY 16, 2017

In US, Record-High 72% See Foreign Trade as Opportunity

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • 72% view foreign trade as an economic opportunity, 23% as a threat
  • 71% say promoting favorable trade policies is "very important"
  • All political party groups increasingly see trade as an opportunity

  • ​​WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A record-high 72% of Americans see foreign trade as an opportunity for economic growth. This is up sharply from 58% last year, after much debate about trade during the presidential election cycle.
  • Full Article  (via Gallup.com)​

UPS Acquires Freightex Ltd. To Accelerate Expansion Of U.K. And European Truckload Brokerage Business

1/9/2017

 
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Steve Gaut
+14048288787 / [email protected]​
​UPS Acquires Freightex Ltd. To Accelerate Expansion Of U.K. And European Truckload Brokerage Business
UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced the purchase of Freightex, a U.K.-based asset-light provider of truckload, less-than-truckload, specialized and refrigerated over-the-road services. The acquisition immediately establishes UPS’s presence in the growing U.K. and European third-party logistics (3PL) over-the-road brokerage transportation market and launches a new global and regional UPS growth platform from an established base of customers and carriers.

The transaction follows UPS’s acquisition of Coyote Logistics in August 2015.  Coyote is a leading truckload brokerage provider in North America.  Coyote and Freightex business models are complementary and UPS expects to share the best system technologies, business processes, as well as leverage customers and carriers across the two units.  Terms of the January 3rd, 2017 transaction were not disclosed.
“The U.K. and Europe are strategic 3PL freight brokerage growth markets for UPS and there is significant cross border opportunity,” said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS Chief Commercial Officer.  “This acquisition provides UPS customers an immediate, knowledgeable and competitive U.K. and European presence.  We intend to align Freightex with Coyote for greater efficiency and continue to invest for further growth.”
Read Full Announcement (via UPS)
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World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia
One Penn Center, Suite 1690
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia, 19103
Phone: (215) 586-4240 | [email protected]