A Revival in Global Economic Activity

Exports during the month hit their highest level since August 2008, the month before the financial crisis.

"More and more of our exports have started going to the faster-growing regions in Asia, Latin America and Canada," said Morgan Stanley economist Ted Wieseman. "It highlights that the emerging markets never really had much of a slowdown at all. They've continued to outperform throughout the crisis."

Exports of industrial supplies were particularly strong, rising 8%, driven by chemicals and plastics. Food exports also surged. Among the big gains: Soybean exports jumped to almost $2.4 billion, an all-time high, from $1.8 billion in September.

Read the entire article here.

If You Were to Bet on Growth, Where Will It Come From?

According to Abbott Laboratories Chief Executive Miles D. White:

... he has assembled a business in fast-growing countries that the company will count on for a big part of its growth.

"Where do you think the growth in the world is going to come from?" Mr. White asked during an interview at his suburban Chicago office, a few miles from Lake Michigan. "Would you bet on the U.S.? Would you bet on Western Europe? It's going to come from emerging markets."

The article goes on further to say:

Now, the fast-growing emerging-market economies are much more attractive. Expanding middle classes in such countries as Brazil, South Korea and Turkey are not only spending more on health care, but their rising affluence has contributed to increasing rates of diabetes, heart disease and other conditions that once had been limited to developed markets. Some governments, notably China's, are beginning to provide insurance to pay for health care.

Read the entire article here.

Graphic illustration source here.

Global Strategy: For the Time Being Avoid the U.S.A.

China's biggest search engine company, Baidu Inc., is more dominant than ever now due to Google's pullback (moved its search to Hong Kong due to censorship demands that were placed on Google by China government).

Baidu's 41-year-old founder and CEO Robin Li has to figure out how to grow the business amid investor concerns on just where the growth will come from since there will be an intentional avoidance of the U.S.A. market for now.

More than two-thirds of China's population is still not on the Internet so there is room for Baidu to squeeze out additional local growth over the next 5-10 years.

But other revenue streams will be critical for Baidu to maintain and sustain its position in the local and global marketplace.

Read the interesting Bosstalk interview conducted by Owen Fletcher (WSJ) with Robin Li (at Baidu's Beijing headquarter office) -- here.

Illustration credit (very striking -- scary -- how much it looks like Google): Baidu search engine service, China

Posted by: Laurel Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog

Do Not Fear the Globalization of Higher Education

The new global brain race is intensely competitive.

Read all about it here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

P&G Extends Reach to Some of the Most Populous Countries in the World

The U.S. and Europe are in a slump so Procter and Gamble plans to target India -- where consumers remain a tough sell -- for its international expansion push.

Read more here.

P&G India here. P&G India: brands.

Photo credit: P&G Ariel, India

Exports Strengthen Global Trade

According to the Commerce Department, the U.S. trade deficit expanded 2.5% to $40.4 billion in March, compared with the prior month.

The March rise in exports and imports was a positive indicator for U.S. demand, as well as for international trade, signaling that more economies around the world are recovering from the downturn.

U.S. exports rose 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted $147.9 billion, while imports increased 3.1% to $188.3 billion.

Read more here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Export Transportation Bottlenecks

The United States is experiencing its own export renaissance due to a generally weak dollar and a push by the Obama administration to double exports in five years.

But the one thing nobody is talking about? Shipping bottlenecks.

It's the opposite of what one might expect. Carriers have a surplus of ships. And since the U.S. still imports more than it exports, freighters arrive in America looking for export cargo to take back, so they don't have to go home empty. Yet American producers of everything from hazelnuts to cardboard are complaining they can't get their goods shipped in timely fashion. Eighty rail cars filled with dried peas sat for weeks on train tracks outside Seattle, waiting for a ship to India. Wheat for Asia is stuck in a warehouse in North Dakota.

It's a challenge.

Read more here.

Learn Global Business Etiquette

If you are in the process of expanding abroad, avoid cultural gaffes by learning local business etiquette in the country you are about to do business.

This article offers some good tips by business owners and experts in the trenches on how to immerse yourself in a country's culture to better understand the people, respect their ways and be sensitive about never offending.

Expanding Abroad? Avoid Cultural Gaffes

You might also check out our 8 Global Marketing Gaffes.