India Is Home to Nearly 7% of the World's Billionaires

Mukesh Ambani, India

According to Sadanand Dhume at The Enterprise Blog, with barely 2 percent of the world’s GDP (in dollar terms), India houses nearly 7 percent of the world’s billionaires.

How does this affect the way we market products in India (e.g., hire Bollywood actors and actresses to develop a brand)?

Read:  Does India Have Too Many Billionaires?

Related article:  India's Richest

Pictured: Mukesh Ambani, one of India's richest.  More on Ambani's firm and latest buy-in.

Welcome Elliana Blaike Perler

And many congratulations to the proud parents, Adam and Stacey.

3 Minutes of Glory

A week after arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus, I was back on the bike today. I saw the doctor this morning, who was very pleased with my progress - no pain or meds since the evening after the surgery, no crutches since Monday, and no limp. He gave me marching orders for physical therapy, and authorized me to get back on the bike, but only in the basement and for just three minutes. If I feel no ill effects tomorrow, I can double the spinning time to 6 minutes. At least I'm a few wheel revolutions closer to being back on the road.

Argentina-Brazil: Trade Trouble Ahead?

Will Brazil's new government will be quicker to react to Argentina's non-tariff trade barriers than its predecessors?

Trouble began brewing in February, when Argentina lengthened the list of Brazilian-made products that no longer qualify for its automatic import licenses from 400 to 600. One of the first sectors to take a hit was Brazil's footwear manufacturing. After the U.S. and the U.K., Argentina is the biggest market for Brazilian shoes.

Learn more over at Knowledge at Wharton: "The Ties That Bind: A new Twist in Brazil-Argentina Trade Tactics?

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

In a World of Risk, How Do You Write It Up?

As the article featured below in CFO Magazine indicates, in emerging markets, the clash between politics and profits presents numerous threats.

Read more here.

Illustration source:  Multilateral Guarantee Agency survey of investors, 2010

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog 

USDA Offering U.S. Forest Service Jobs

US Forest Service Employment Opportunities

In approximately two weeks, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the federal government, will be advertising fifteen full-time positions on USAJobs as part of its new Acquisition Management (AQM) Trainee Program. This program offers a unique opportunity to young professionals and recent college graduates, providing trainees with formal training, mentoring, and other opportunities over a three or four year period to prepare them to assume full-performance Contract Specialist and Leasing Specialist positions within AQM upon successful program completion.

These fifteen paid positions are hired at a GS-7 level through USAJobs, with promotion potential to a GS-11 or GS-12 level, depending on location. The positions are offered at multiple duty stations across the nation.

The USDA is committed to meeting the growing demands placed on the department by recruiting and hiring a skilled, diverse, and enthusiastic workforce. The USFS asks that you take a moment to disperse the attached outreach notice to interested parties. By responding to the outreach notice, potential applicants will be notified when the job announcements for the fifteen positions are posted on USAJobs so that they may apply there.

Responses, questions, and concerns should be sent to fsaqmjobs@fs.fed.us .

Contacting a Manufacturer: Script It To Perfect It

Preparation is everything when it comes to initial contact with a manufacturer on a product you wish to import or export.

Here's a script I prepared that hopefully guides you with your first communication.

Scripting Your Communication to the Manufacturer:  Importing and Exporting Business