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Hello International Traders! Our reader survey told us that you wanted to know more about
Poland, so I found a portal to solid information about Poland and
its economy. Also, in this issue I profile a site from Consumer
Reports that will help you find the most trustworthy sites on the
Web. And I have another university-based site with useful
research resources. Finally, I found a site that shows you the
strengths and weaknesses of all the major search engines -- and
many of the specialized ones!
If you'd like more information about international trade, go to FITA's
International Trade/ Import-Export Portal ( http://fita.org ), an excellent
source for trade leads, news, events, and a link library of 7,000 sites related
to international trade.
| POLAND -- OUR FEATURED COUNTRY
Poland has made one of the most successful transitions to capitalism
of all the former Soviet-controlled countries, and its economy
is doing well. As a country that borders on seven other countries,
Poland knows that trade is an important part of its success.
If you want to learn more about opportunities in this Eastern
European country, go to the Poland page at the Baltic
Sea States site ( http://bibl.sh.se/baltic/country.asp?l=10
). Click on one of the categories (Business and Economy, News
and Media, etc.) and you'll find a list of links to useful information
on that topic. A helpful feature is that the link tells you
the language of each site on the list.
There are many more links to Poland at the FITA site. Go to http://fita.org/webindex,
click on "Regional Resources and Multi-Lateral Trading Areas" in the left column,
then scroll down to "Europe" and click on "Poland" in the drop-down
box. Or simply type "Poland" in the search box at http://www.fita.org.
And FITA's Global
Trade Book Store has a few books about doing business
in Poland. Check out especially Passport
Poland, Your Pocket Guide to Polish Business, Customs & Etiquette,
Doing
Business with Poland, Doing
Business in Emerging Europe and Doing
Business in Newly Privatized Markets: Global Opportunities
and Challenges.
GLOBAL CONNECTOR
The CIBERWeb is a network of 30 U.S. universities that act as a resource for business,
students, and academics who are concerned with international trade and education.
I've profiled the Michigan State CIBER site in the past, but Indiana University's
site is worth looking at also. Called Global
Connector ( http://www.globalconnector.org/gc_home.cfm ), this site has very
targeted information. When you search for something on Global Connector you'll
get a handful of links, but every one will be a quality site. It's simple to use
-- you just click on "Country Search" or "Industry Search" at the top of the main
page, and then you'll come to a page where you can choose your search parameters.
You'll find links to country profiles, maps, weather reports, economic statistics,
industry reports, trade associations, news, government sites, travel sites, and
more.
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PIERS MARKET TIP:
It Could Be a Small (Business) World After All
http://www.piers.com/learnmoreSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for more than 29% of total
U.S. goods exported ... and represent 97% of all U.S. exporters, according to
the International Trade Administration Statistical Handbook on exporting SMEs.
Now the Small Business Administration (SBA) finds that it's not out-of-pocket
transaction costs keeping SMEs from bringing their products to the global marketplace.
It's the psychological, personal, and opportunity costs. The biggest psychological
barrier to exporting is uncertainty about overseas markets, according to the
SBA report "Costs of Developing a Foreign Market for a Small Business: The
Market and Non-Market Barriers to Exporting by Small Firms."
The SBA guide to Breaking into the Trade Game includes questions to
help SMEs build an export business plan ... and PIERS trade data can supply
the answers about potential markets and customers. For links to the ITA Handbook
and the SBA report and exporting guide -- and to learn more about PIERS global
intelligence resources --go to http://www.piers.com/learnmore. |
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CONSUMER REPORTS WEBWATCH
Consumer Reports magazine has been around for decades, and it has a sterling reputation
for honesty. The magazine accepts no advertising, and because it's beholden to
nobody, you know you're getting fair, unbiased reviews of products and services.
Consumer Reports WebWatch
( http://www.consumerwebwatch.org ) brings the same impartial focus to the Web,
which is sorely needed. This site rates other Web sites on things like: disclosure
of transaction fees and business partnerships relevant to consumers; how clearly
sites tell consumers what their privacy policies are, and how clearly and consistently
Web sites label advertising, among other things. Although the Web is a great resource,
not all Web sites are honest or reliable. This site will help you to find out
which ones you can rely on.
PHIL BRADLEY'S FINDING INFORMATION
Even a seasoned Web searcher like me can strike out once in awhile with my old
faithful search tools, which is why I like to find new search engines. Phil Bradley's
Finding Information
( http://www.philb.com/whichengine.htm ) not only has some recent additions to
the search engine universe, it also tells you in plain English exactly how to
use them. I like the way he helps you to define what you need ("I want an overview
of a subject," "I want to see thumbnails of pages before visiting them," "I need
access to academic resources," etc.). And he has dozens of search engines here,
including several I never knew about.
FEATURED JOB FROM FITA'S CAREER HQ
In the new FITA Career Headquarters job seekers can now apply for jobs online and post their resume--free of charge--in an exclusive database that will be searched by hundreds of industry employers seeking employees with international degrees and/or related work experience. A featured job this week is
for an International Trade Specialistwith Regions Bank in Dallas. They have also listed similar positions in New Orleans and
Indianapolis. Click here to browse more than 700 other positions!
And click here if you are an employer looking for uniquely qualified internationally-skilled staff.
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Published by Federation of International Trade Associations
Copyright © 2005 Federation of International Trade Associations.
All rights reserved.
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