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The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce International Business Department promotes business connections between Fort Worth-based companies and potential partners
around the globe. The Chamber also offers professional development and counseling services with regard to exports, imports, and strategy.
As part of outbound trade missions, the Fort Worth Chamber has sent first-time exporters as well as established international players to Ecuador, Brazil, Beijing, Shanghai, Mexico, Canada, and Swaziland; each group received pre-arranged meetings with screened potential clients/partners and country specific market research. A host of large and small Fort Worth companies, including Lockheed-Martin, RadioShack, Legare Furniture, and Asian Antiques Ltd. already operate internationally and continue to profit from Chamber assistance.
On the local level, the Chamber regularly hosts inbound trade missions and has attracted foreign direct investment from such companies as Dannon, Grupo Bimbo, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Galderma, and Recaro.
We would like to learn more about your business, the following questionnaire will will only take a few minutes to complete. Thank you for taking the time to help us serve you better.
Click here to fill out our International Business Questionnaire
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MAY 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mayor's Global Business Awards
For more event information contact:
Mary Weaver
Director of International Business
817-336-2491 x 229
mweaver@fortworthchamber.com
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Professional Development and Services |
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International Business Counseling
The Chamber provides its members with personalized international business counseling to guide them through the business development process. The Chamber offers members an export advisory team composed of an accountant, lawyer, and freight forwarder. The team assists members with the following services:
- Feasibility studies
- Market entry strategies
- Logistics/Distribution
- Pricing
- Financing
- Legal issues
- Identifying potential customers and partners
International Executive Dialogue
This group comprised of business leaders meets quarterly to discuss and exchange experiences, challenges, and opportunities with regard to international business.
Internships
The Chamber offers unpaid internships to students and recent college graduates with an interest in international business. Please contact Mary Weaver, Director of International Business Development, for more information.
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Global Initiatives and Strategic Alliances |
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Strategic Alliances with AMCHAM’s and National Chambers of Commerce in:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Mexico
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What Fort Worth Has to Offer |
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Fort Worth specializes in these industries:
- Transportation
- Logistics
- Distribution
- Life Sciences
- Energy
- Aerospace
Reasons Fort Worth attracts foreign-owned business:
- Texas and the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex have been named the #1 state in the USA and the top market in Texas for business relocation and expansion by several sources, including Site Selection and Chief Executive magazines.
- DFW International Airport’s strategic central location facilitates cargo connections around the world. Its location offers superior air and trucking connections, and provides commercial air travel convenience for 60 million travelers a year.
- Alliance Airport, the world’s first industrial airport, is the only Foreign Trade Zone in North Texas with combined air, rail, and highway access.
- The City of Fort Worth earned the Best Workplaces for Commuters designation - a mark of environmental and commuter friendliness – from the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
- Foreign trade zones
- The superhighway – Interstate 35W – runs through Fort Worth, linking the United States to both Canada and Mexico
- Incentives for foreign direct investment in Fort Worth
- Tech Fort Worth (formerly Fort Worth MedTech Center), a privately funded non-profit business incubator, provides specialized and industry-specific business assistance to technology start-up companies.
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Mayor's Global Business Awards |
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Mayor’s Global Business Awards – May 31, 2007
This annual event recognizes excellence in exporting, importing and services, and promotes local awareness of the benefits of international business. The Chamber works as a co-host and coordinator of the Mayor’s Global Business Awards in cooperation with the Fort Worth International Center. The 2007 winners were, InterConnect Wiring, LLP, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, The Neeley School of Business at TCU and the recipient to the Kenneth Barr Flagship Award went to Alliance Texas – A Development of Hillwood.
The Alliance Global Logistics Hub is part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas – A Development of Hillwood and is widely regarded as the country’s greatest example of the integration of multimodal forms of transportation – air, rail and highway – to handle imported goods, primarily from Asia, that in some instances are bound for locations across North America. Fort Worth Alliance Airport, which is the fastest growing air cargo facility in North America, also is a key piece of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub. In 2006 the airport handled more air cargo, more than 250,000 metric tons, than it had in any other previous year. Congratulations AllianceTexas – A Development of Hillwood, the International Flagship Award “for outstanding success and proven dedication to long-term international business development in Fort Worth”.
 Interconnect Wiring, LLP is known for high quality, fast turnaround, and committed management. With a quality reputation, it was easy for Interconnect to consider approaching international customers. Word of their reputation in some cases preceded their sales calls. “In the beginning, not knowing what it took to cross over to serving international customers, we decided to use the same resources we used when we started,” co-founder, John Ashour said. (The company relied on the City of Fort Worth for help in starting their company.) “We attended trade shows and sought the resources of the Forth Worth International Center for advice on how InterConnect could go global.” It paid off. Congratulations InterConnect Wiring, LLP, Excellence in International Business Award recipient.
 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics values doing what’s right, respecting others and performing with excellence. A key driver of the company’s tremendous success is Lockheed Martin’s expertise in creating unique business solutions to meet the goals of its diverse international customers for military aircraft and related technologies. The new F-35 “Lightning II” Joint Strike Fighter and the F-16 Multi-mission Fighter are both fully assembled and delivered in Fort Worth and their customers include the military services of 67 nations, in addition to the United States. Lockheed Martin will continue to be a vital part of the local economy for decades to come, with production of the F-35 and support, sustainment, and modification of the worldwide F-16 fleet. Congratulations Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Excellence in International Business Award recipient.
 The Neeley School of Business at TCU is equipping tomorrow’s global business leaders today. The Neeley School makes sure students comprehend, respect and experience the economic, political, cultural and legal aspects of a global environment. Neeley’s global approach is three-pronged: 1) Develop and disseminate knowledge about the global environment; 2) Help students experience and influence the global environment; 3) Create powerful global connections. “Whether working alongside someone from a different country, visiting corporations overseas, studying abroad or supporting an entrepreneur in an emerging market, Neeley students see themselves as citizens of the world with expanded vision, ethics and vales,” said Bill Moncrief, associate dean of undergraduate programs. Congratulations The Neeley School of Business at TCU, Excellence in International Business Award recipient.
Do you have a business you would like to nominate for
Mayor's Global Business Awards May 2008?
Click here for an Application
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Trade Mission / Events |
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ITAR Seminar - February 21, 2007
Fort Worth Trade Mission to Canada 2007
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Click here to read the rest of this December 2007 Chamberletter story |
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Fort Worth Trade Mission to China May 2006
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The May 2006 China Business Mission included a delegation of 20, pictured here are, Bill Frainey-DFW International Airport, Randy Humphreys-JP Morgan Chase Bank, Ricardo Carrillo-Carrillo Funeral Directors and Carey Spence-Fort Worth International Center. |
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth International Center and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce traveled to Shanghai and Beijing in May 2006 to market the region to key executives in a number of major Chinese corporations.
Individual meetings were set for each business partnership, designed to
develop relationships with area companies in their individual area of trade and commerce. The delegation consisted of twenty participants from around the DFW region, including the Banking, Real Estate Development, Health Science, Distribution and Manufacturing industries.
Jim Bradbury of Jackson Walker Fort Worth, Texas wrote a daily blog posted on the Fort Worth Chamber web site as he described each day of the trip in a few short but interesting words.
“As China continues to lead the world in economic growth, an expanding base of trade and investment prospects are emerging,” said Mary Weaver, Fort Worth Chamber International Business Director. “Identifying that potential and linking it to the Fort Worth-Dallas area is our goal.”
Sigi Frias, Director of the Fort Worth International Center agrees. “China is an ever-growing factor of the world economy. It is this country’s greatest opportunity and our biggest challenge. “
Meetings were held with substantial Chinese companies in sectors that range from steel to logistics to textiles. A growing catalogue of specific opportunities is being developed to help facilitate business development. The catalogue will continue to expand as new trends and opportunities are uncovered.
“It’s also important that we are well informed of the commercial interests of local businesses,” Weaver added. “This kind of information will allow us to survey the market in a more strategic way. Putting our know-how, ingenuity and marketing abilities to sell more in China while continuing to benefit from their manufacturing capabilities should be our objective.”
“Our hope is that at some point, service will originate from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport,” said Weaver. “In any case, a Fort Worth based company offering this kind of connectivity to the world’s most dynamic market bodes well for the region’s visibility and profile in a highly competitive market.”
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Organizations in Partnership |
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The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce collaborates with several organizations at the local, state and national levels including:
The Fort Worth International Center works to enhance the business and cultural climate of Fort Worth by the promotion of international trade and investment, professional and cultural exchanges and by being the focal point for the city’s international image abroad.
The Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce unites and engages the Dallas region ’s business community, and provides dynamic business and civic leadership to develop and sustain a prosperous economy and vibrant community.
The US Export Assistance Center provides export information and development assistance to help small businesses take advantage of export markets, including trade counseling, training, legal assistance and publications.
The North Texas District Export Council is a diverse group of volunteer international trade professionals who meet for preliminary sessions addressing international issues and awareness. Members include exporters, providers of export support services and academia.
The Office of Economic Development and Tourism markets Texas and promotes the opportunities that anyone can find within Texas’ borders. Whether permanently relocating a business or simply planning a weekend get-away, this office serves to showcase Texas and facilitate the arrival of its guests.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce-As the nation’s largest not-for-profit business federation, the U.S. Chamber represents the interests of businesses, local Chambers, and business associations in Washington, D.C.
For more information contact:
Mary Weaver
Director of International Business
817-336-2491 x 229
mweaver@fortworthchamber.com
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