Author: Stephen Donnelly, President, Stephen Donnelly & Associates | sd@sdamktg.com, 719-337-8238
The Center for International Business Advancement explored opportunities for regional growth through soft-landing and smart-takeoff initiatives
New York, NY – The Center for International Business Advancement (CIBA) held its eighth Annual Global Trade and Investment Forum at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business facility in New York City, on April 20, 2023.
The theme of the forum was Soft Landings and Smart Takeoffs: Driving Innovation and Economic Growth Across National Borders, which highlighted the importance of soft-landing policies, strategies and programs for the establishment of cross-border innovation hubs and growth of regional economies through a soft-landing internationalization strategy.
Founding Director of CIBA, Elena Iankova and Cornell SC Johnson College Associate Dean for Strategy and Society Impact opened the event, followed by a keynote address from Kendee Yamaguchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Field at the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
In her role, Yamaguchi leads a team of 300 international trade experts in over 100 US offices across 48 states and Puerto Rico, helping businesses of all sizes export their goods and services and attracting foreign direct investment to increase jobs within the country. It was critical for her to speak about the services the DOC provides because 98% of US companies that export are small- and medium-sized enterprises.
“Like CIBA, our agency’s economic development programs are focused on making sure the US economy is a well-fueled plane, with seamless takeoffs and landings to enter into our global markets,” said Yamaguchi. “We have a seamless worldwide network in place and convenings like today illustrate how we can leverage this potential. The International Trade Administration supports both smart takeoffs through exports and soft landings through investments.”
Over 20 panelists with academic, business and government backgrounds focused on the key opportunities of soft-landing initiatives as an international strategy for regional economic growth and job creation.
Panel discussions included Soft Landing New York as a Strategic Partnership for Regional Economic Growth, Soft Landing Programs: Opportunities for Cross-Border Innovation and Business Growth, Smart Takeoffs for Soft Landing Success, Investing in Soft Landing Companies, Soft Landing Opportunities in the Clean Energy Sector, and Soft Landing Opportunities in the Food and Agri-Tech Sectors.
Closing remarks concluded with a shared commitment from CIBA, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and panelists to continue exploring opportunities that drive economic development and positive societal impact.
The forum was sponsored by the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships at Binghamton University, the Stephen Donnelly & Associates marketing and public relations firm, Charge CCCV LLC, The Leadership Alliance at Broome County, and ENRICH in the USA.
ABOUT: The Center for International Business Advancement (CIBA) is a policy-oriented research and training center that brings together stakeholders from academia, business and government in pursuit of regional economic development objectives. It is supported by the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University and the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships at Binghamton University.
CIBA’s mission is to boost economic growth and job creation in the Southern Tier, NY region by increasing the internationalization and global competitiveness of the academic, business and policy communities in the region. The Center achieves its mission by offering experiential learning to university students and preparing them for global leadership and professional advancement in a globalized economy; expanding the international exporting capacity of small to mid-sized companies in the region; promoting abroad the region’s competitive advantages for investment and providing successful landing and integration of foreign companies into the regional economy; and moving international trade and foreign direct investment to the forefront of the regional economic development strategies.
