UTSA Institute for Economic Development to create pilot Global Business Center
(Feb. 25, 2013) -- As part of a growing economic initiative to go global, the Institute for Economic Development Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center will create a pilot MBDA Global Business Center aimed at providing minority-owned enterprises with export readiness, cutting-edge market intelligence and trade knowledge to help them identify ideal target international markets and means of engagement.
The program will develop and maintain a broad network of global contacts encompassing United States government agencies, foreign government agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce and a diverse number of economic institutions and private entities that can provide the critical know-how to greatly raise the success rate of minority-owned businesses expanding overseas. Clients will benefit from the consulting services offered by the center in accessing international markets and capital for their operations.
Throughout 2013, the IED will lay the foundation for the Global Business Center. The center will strengthen the international market position of minority-owned enterprise clients, and it will collaborate with other partners at the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, the Minority Business Development Agency, the International Trade Administration and other institutions.
During its initial phase, the program will target Latin America and Brazil as an export destination for clients. Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games and offers many billions of dollars in economic opportunities ranging from civil construction to professional services to widely diverse consumer products to satisfy the demands of that nation's large and growing middle class.
Whether exporting to Brazil or any other nation, the MGBC offers clients the following services:
- Export readiness assessment
- Market intelligence report
- International contacts
- Access to international markets
- Cultural awareness
- Access to capital
David Leister will oversee the program as the MBDA Global Business Center project manager. He has a heavy international background with more than 14 years overseas living/business experience, 11 of which were in Brazil. He has worked in the private sector as both a business owner and consultant with a focus in assisting companies to become export-ready. Leister believes that the Global Business Center "will be built up successfully through a vision for long-term growth, planting seeds today to harvest tomorrow." Companies working with the MGBC will benefit down the road and have a strong foundation to turn to for international business assistance.
Leister is excited about the potential of the pilot program and said "the tendency for tomorrow is further globalization and probably a significant steady increase in hemispheric trade. Minority-owned companies who gain export experience today will reap ever increasing market growth benefits tomorrow as trade and technology advance and cultural barriers become less formidable."
For more information, contact David Leister at 210-458-2012.
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About the IED
The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic development. Its 12 centers and programs provide professional business advising, technical training, research and strategic planning for entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders.
Programs serve San Antonio and the Texas-Mexico border area as well as regional, national and international stakeholders. Together with federal, state and local governments, and private businesses, the IED fosters economic and community development in support of UTSA's community engagement mission.
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