Business Facilities - October 2008 - (Page 12)

managing the risks. There is still much to be gained from going abroad, such as reduced production costs. And, in countries such as China, the opportunity to sell products to a new and growing middle class is enticing. But be sure to do your homework before you invest. It’s important to have partners on the ground in these foreign countries and strong service providers, such as insurers, to help protect new ventures and investments. Since it is riskier for a small company to do business overseas, look for some knowledgeable partners who can offer experience and success in the specific market, such as an insurance carrier with a global network. Mark O’Connell CEO OCO Global Belfast, Northern Ireland Respond to business opportunities, not places. When evaluating an expansion or relocation, look beyond the typical information economic development organizations are giving you. In other words, what location doesn’t offer competitive operating costs, available land/property, good infrastructure, incentives, skills, existing clusters, quality of life, and market access? Consider the business case and proposition for each location you’re evaluating and determine which area has the unique attributes that will give your business the competitive advantage you desire. Traditional investment criteria are moving away from a geographic “sale” to one that considers factors such as access to technologies in the region, access to key accounts and strategic companies, and access to a strong academic infrastructure. Sieb Hoogstra Head of Corporate Location Services OCO Global Brussels, Belgium Understand the European market. Just because a country is part of the European Union doesn’t mean the access-to-market requirements are the same. Within the EU, each of the member countries have different real estate practices, employee environment regulations, labor laws and languages; they all require a “bespoke” strategic approach and evaluation. In contrast to the U.S., incentives in Europe are less available and much more regulated. A thorough location benchmarking exercise, focusing on main location drivers and cost in a first phase, will allow a company to make a well informed decision to narrow options and to move on quickly with a more in-depth study of the short-listed locations in Europe, which will avoid long and costly research on too many options at the start. Even though entering a new market Compress ALL your Fluorescent Tubes, CFL’s & Metal Halide Lamps Effectively, Safely & Economically! Introducing E C O - F R I E N D LY L A M P C O M P R E S S O R PATENT PENDING TM Only! $ (Complete System) 3,175.00 The Eco-Friendly LAMP COMPRESSOR • Compresses Fluorescent Tubes up to 12 ft. long • Takes CFL's and Metal Halide Lamps, 400 to 1,000 watts, up to 7.5” wide • Safely contains the Mercury with True Negative Pressure in the Vacuum at all times • 110V (standard) and 220V (available) • 30-month Warranty on Parts and Labor • Heavy-Duty, Light-Weight Construction • Exceeds OSHA, ACGIH, NIOSH and European Clean Air Standards To order or for more information Call: 702-202-1685 Fax: 702-202-1628 E-mail: info@communityenvironmentalliance.com Inquire about our other Innovative Recycling Solutions to Preserve the Environment 2475 W. Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 150 North Las Vegas, NV 89032 www.communityenvironmentalliance.com #0012 at www.BusinessFacilities.com 12 OCTOBER 2008 http://www.businessfacilities.com/blog/index.html http://www.communityenvironmentalliance.com http://www.communityenvironmentalliance.com http://www.BusinessFacilities.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - October 2008

Business Facilities - October 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Metro Spotlight: Phoenix, AZ Essential Relocation Tips Metro Spotlight: Fayette County, GA Corporate Moves: Kentucky Austria: Hungry for International Trade Foreign Trade Zones: Global Expansion at Reduced Cost New York is Banking on High-Tech Growth Metro Spotlight: Cuba, MO The Garden State is Growing it's City Centers Information Technology: No Signs of a Slowdown Advertiser Index Inside LiveExchange

Business Facilities - October 2008

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