Logistics

LA, Long Beach Ports’ Zero Emission Plan to Cost Up to USD 14 Bn

AICC Export, Home, Logistics, Transportation

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have set out aggressive near-term and long-term strategies to cut harmful air pollution from all port-related sources to ultimately achieve zero emissions for trucks and terminal equipment.

In a draft document titled 2017 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) Update the ports revealed detailed steps to be undertaken.

“These ports are going where no port has gone before,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

“Based on what we’ve already accomplished to promote healthy, robust trade through our gateway, we’re ready to make history again, looking at a new array of technologies and strategies to further lower port-related emissions in the decades ahead.”

According to a preliminary analysis the cost of implementing the 2017 CAAP rages between USD 7 billion and USD 14 billion. Given the magnitude of the investment, the draft plan calls for the ports to intensify their funding advocacy and increase collaboration with their partners to finance the new strategies.

The ports claim that the draft 2017 CAAP ushers in a new era of clean air strategies that seek to reduce harmful emissions from port-related sources: ships, trucks, cargo handling equipment, locomotives and harbor craft.

Furthermore, the document is said to be in line with local, regional, state and federal standards and regulations, and anticipates clean air regulations under development by the California Air Resources Board.

The 2017 CAAP sets new clean air goals focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The plan carries over previous 2023 targets for cutting other primary pollutants aimed at reducing diesel particulate matter (DPM) 77 percent, sulfur oxides (SOx) 93 percent, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) 59 percent below 2005 levels.

The most recent emissions inventories show the ports have surpassed the 2023 DPM and SOx reduction targets and are within striking range of the NOx target. The 2017 CAAP identifies the tougher measures needed to ratchet down harmful emissions to zero or near-zero levels, the statement further adds.

The document’s release kicks off a public review and comment period that extends through Sept. 18.

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach handle approximately 40 percent of the nation’s total containerized import traffic and 25 percent of its total exports.

By – World Maritime News

THE WORLD’S LARGEST BUSINESS AVIATION EVENT – 2016 NBAA-BACE

AICC Business, Event, Export, Logistics, Manufacture, Membership, News and Press, Transportation, Travel

Orlando, Nov 1st,  Join 27,000 industry professionals for the most important three days of business aviation today. Ranked as the sixth largest trade show in the United States, the Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) held on Nov. 1–3, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, bringing together current and prospective aircraft owners, manufacturers and customers into one meeting place to get critical work accomplished.

NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) is the year’s most significant media event for the business aviation industry. This event brings together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, corporate aviation department personnel and all manner of people involved in nearly all aspects of business aviation.

Roughly 27,000 business aviation industry professionals are expected to converge on Orlando, FL Nov. 1-3 for NBAA’s 2016 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). For the Orlando area, whose economy depends heavily on travel and tourism, including a booming convention business, NBAA-BACE is a major contributor to the area’s economy.

Ranked as one of the largest trade show in the United States, NBAA-BACE brings together current and prospective aircraft owners, manufacturers and customers into one meeting place to survey the latest aviation product offerings, network with peers and accomplish critical work.

According to the Orlando County Convention Center (OCCC), the show will have an estimated overall economic impact on the area of $51.2 million. NBAA attendees will utilize 46,100 total hotel room nights, with 10,000 nights booked during the peak period, according to OCCC.

“The Orange County Convention Center is honored to host the prestigious NBAA conference,” said OCCC Executive Director Kathie Canning. “We have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with NBAA and are excited to continue to provide their leadership, exhibitors and attendees with all of the amenities that our convention center and community have to offer.”

NBAA last held the convention in Orlando in 2014, and the show is scheduled to return to Orlando in 2018. NBAA-BACE feature more than 1,100 exhibits and two static aircraft displays, as well as more 50 educational seminars.

U.S. Department of Commerce Partners with USC Marshall School of Business, Ports of L.A., Long Beach to Advance Nation’s Supply Chains

AICC Business, Economic, Event, Export, IT, Logistics, News and Press, Technology, Trade, Transportation

A strategic partnership with the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management aimed at improving the global competitiveness of the nation’s supply chains was signed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on October 14 at the University Park campus.

“Through this new partnership, we hope to encourage ports around the country to increase efficiency by adopting new technologies that will provide more information on the flow of goods to port users and stakeholders,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The ability to move cargo quickly through our ports is critical to national and regional trade, economic growth, and our nation’s overall competitiveness.”

The partnership with USC Marshall will allow for collaboration on digitalization of the nation’s supply chains, including applications related to IoT (Internet of Things).

The first formal event of the partnership will be the Port Community IT Systems Exhibition and Technology Challenge at USC on Nov. 18-20. The gathering will open with a symposium offering leaders from ports communities and supply chain owner organizations, as well as public policy and academic experts a chance to explore how digital innovations can increase port operating efficiencies and reduce overall supply chain congestion.

“The Port of Los Angeles isn’t just the nation’s leading cargo port—it’s a laboratory for ideas and technologies that show how ports across America can thrive in the global marketplace for generations to come,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Los Angeles is the perfect home for this innovative partnership, and I’m proud of the critical role our port has played in making it possible.”

The November conference will also feature a technology challenge, allowing teams of startups and student developers to compete for $15,000 in prizes for innovative new applications and solutions for sharing vital information through Port Community IT systems.

The Department’s 21st Century Ports Initiative is designed to promote excellence in the operation of the nation’s ports and associated supply chains. Digitalization of supply chain operations offers exciting opportunities for innovation and increased efficiencies that can benefit the wider U.S. economy. The existing research program at the Center for Global Supply Chain Management brings real synergy to this effort. 

“At the direction of Mayor Garcetti and Secretary Pritzker, The Port of Los Angeles will embark upon a project to test the capabilities of advanced digital technology to support efficiency, transparency and reliability in the maritime supply chain,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. “We must engage a broad network of experts to succeed and the partnership announced today offers an excellent platform to do that.”

The Center for Global Supply Chain Management at the USC Marshall School of Business has worked with the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach on multi-year research projects to develop efficiencies and solutions for improved cargo flow and environmental sustainability for three years. The Center has hosted the annual Global Supply Chain Management Excellence Summit since 2012, bringing together key supply chain stakeholders to network and share knowledge.

“The alliance between the Dept. of Commerce, USC Marshall and the CGSCM will facilitate the crucial first step of dissecting this problem so we can move forward with modernizing global supply chain using digital technology,” said Nick Vyas executive director of USC Marshall’s Center for Global Supply Chain Management (CGSCM) and assistant professor of clinical data sciences and operations at USC Marshall.

Registration for the conference on Nov. 18 and the Hackathon on Nov.19 is now open atwww.uscsupplychain.com/digitalsc.

For more information on the conference, contact Eric Chow, associate director at digitalsc@marshall.usc.edu or 213-821-0093 or Marni Goldberg at Mgoldberg@doc.gov.

For media inquiries, contact Alison Stateman, Alison.stateman@marshall.usc.edu or 917-224-8777.

Building Peace: Colombian Peace Presents New U.S. Business Opportunities

AICC Agriculture, Investment, Logistics, Trade, Travel


Bogota, Colombia

After decades of civil unrest, the Colombian government reached a ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on June 23, 2016. The ceasefire deal was the last major step in reaching a final peace agreement, expected by the second half of August, according to Colombia’s Minister of Post-Conflict, Rafael Pardo. Peace is expected to bring many benefits to Colombia, including improved rule of law, security, and increased investment. This improved business environment has the potential to open a number of new opportunities for to U.S. companies.

The U.S. is an important trade and investment partner for Colombia. U.S.-based companies have been exporting an increased number products to Colombia since the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement went into effect in 2012. U.S. goods exports to Colombia stand at $16.3 billion in 2015, having grown 14% since the implementation of the agreement – compared to just 1.2% growth in U.S. goods exports worldwide over the same period. This makes Colombia our third largest export destination in Latin America.

Two industries that have made large gains are agricultural products and manufactured goods. Agriculture exports have doubled to $1.3 billion, and manufacturing exports grew 9.8% for a total of $14.5 billion in 2015.

One of the areas under negotiation as part of the peace process is comprehensive agricultural development. Therefore, a number of large agricultural development projects are planned as part of the government’s post-conflict strategy. The goal is to assist those areas most affected by the conflict and work to peacefully reintegrate the FARC and its former members into society. This priority has the potential to improve the standard of living for about 20% of the Colombian population that lives in rural areas affected by violence.

As Colombia seeks to develop and modernize its agricultural sector, U.S. agricultural equipment and services firms may find new business opportunities. For instance, new agricultural equipment imports can be subsidized by the government of Colombia, and the two-year, $500 million Colombia Siembra program is expected to increase agriculture growth in four years from 2.3% to 6.2% by 2018.

In addition, Business Monitor International found that total food consumption is projected to rise by 56.4% between 2014 and 2019. As a result, more opportunities may open up for businesses that provide value-add technologies to the sector, such as food processing and packaging companies.

Furthermore, Colombia’s post-peace development agenda includes a Contratos Plan (Peace Contracts) initiative led by the National Planning Department (DNP). This plan consists of about 1,450 priority peace projects for a total investment of about 14 trillion pesos, or USD$4.5 billion. The Peace Contracts will include long-term infrastructure projects, as well as other smaller development projects. The most important business opportunities for companies post-conflict include:

  • Infrastructure: roads, airports, aqueducts, schools, hospitals, telecommunications infrastructure, and connectivity
  • Tourism: development of rural tourism and ecotourism
  • Logistics: storage centers and regional distribution centers
  • Agriculture: commercialization of family farming, increased agricultural productivity at small scale farms, and development of irrigation districts.

Colombia is seeking international cooperation and private sector participation to fund several of these development projects. Some of the financial tools being considered are private investment incentives such as Free Trade Zones and Public-Private Partnerships in post-conflict areas. Minister Pardo has also proposed an adjustment to the private sector infrastructure tax. This will create tax incentives for businesses developing infrastructure projects in conflict-affected areas.

The post-conflict environment will present new business opportunities for U.S. companies. Accordingly, U.S. businesses should begin exploring the market now in order to take an advantage of these opportunities.

For information on doing business and exporting to Colombia, visit our web page, including information on upcoming trade events. The Colombian U.S. Commercial Service team is ready to support you in successfully doing business in Colombia.

Follow: Department of Commerce
Steven Armendariz is an Intern at the Colombia Desk at the International Trade Administration

Global Cultural & Business Practices

AICC Business, Event, Export, Home, Logistics, News and Press, Trade, Training

Wednesday September 14, 2016
1:30 PM to 5:00 PM PDT

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center
College of the Canyons
University Center Room 258
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Host by:

Port of Los Angeles
SBDC
CITD

Global Cultural & Business Practices

AICC Business, Event, Export, Logistics, Trade

Wednesday,September 14, 2016
1:30 PM to 5:00 PM PDT

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook
University Center
College of the Canyons
University Center Room 258
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Cost: Attendance at this event is free

Improve Your Bussiness, Embrace Diversity

Global Business is Expanding…
Are you ready for the challenge

Business in America

AICC Agriculture, Business, Culture, Economic, Energy, Entertainment, Financial, Food, Home, Information, Investment, IT, Logistics, Manufacture, Programs, Services, Technology, Trade, Transportation

Innovation

America’s economic growth and international competitiveness depend on our ability to innovate. President Obama believes that we will create the jobs and industries of the future and restore middle class security by doing what America does best – investing in the creativity and imagination of our people. We must out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world to ensure that our nation achieves rapid, sustained and broad-based economic growth.

Small Business

President Obama is committed to helping America’s small businesses grow and prosper. Small businesses are the engines of job creation and essential to strengthening our national economy. That’s why he has cut taxes for small businesses and helped them get access to the capital they need to expand and create the jobs we need now and for decades to come. And that’s why the American Jobs Act provides tax relief for every small business, rewards for those that hire and invest and includes new measures to cut red tape and ease access to capital.

Competing Globally

President Obama set a goal of doubling America’s exports within five years and his Administration is taking steps to do just that: getting Congress to pass three critical trade agreements, expanding loans to exporters, preserving the free flow of information on the Internet and promoting American manufacturing. And he is working to make America the best place for people to do business, by reforming our patent system, improving our infrastructure, and investing in our workers.

To restore security to the middle class and create an economy built to last – that creates the jobs of the future and makes things the rest of the world buys -we have to out-innovate the competition. But to win that competition, American companies must be able to take their ideas to market quickly without the constraints of undue regulation and costs. That’s why President Obama has directed his Administration to reduce barriers to American business success, including reforming our patent system, reviewing federal regulations, and promoting trade.

Entrepreneurs

President Obama knows that today’s entrepreneurs are tomorrow’s Fortune 500 companies and exemplify America’s competitive edge in ingenuity and innovation. That is why the President has tasked his administration with crafting policies that eliminate barriers to startup formation, drive investment to the best ideas, and accelerate the growth of young companies in the marketplace.

( White House)