The Michigan State University International Business Center recently published the globalEDGE Market Potential Index (MPI) for 2011 which ranks 26 emerging countries according to their market potentials based on 8 different market dimensions. Similar to the recent years’ trends, countries in Asia such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and South Korea have the highest overall rankings again. This year four major Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia) showed strong improvement and moved up several positions in the rankings, and much of this improvement can be attributed to infrastructure growth, a declining poverty index, and commodity growth in Latin America. Conversely, the Russian Federation lost its strong position in the last two years and moved from the 9th position back to the 19th this year. As always, MPI continues to be an important source for the companies globally which plans to invest in these emerging countries. To see the full 2011 results, please visit ​http://globaledge.msu.edu/Knowledge-Tools/MPI.

FDIB-Africa: South Africa, Zambia & Botswana

The Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB) - Africa program, in its 6 consecutive year, is offered annually by a consortium of CIBER universities, led and managed by the University of South Carolina CIBER.  The program focus on providing participating faculty, business professionals and graduate students a unique international study tour opportunity, which will ultimately assist the U.S. in its global competetiveness via pedagogy, research, business networking and outreach, and academic-business relationship building. The objective of the FDIB-Africa program is to raise faculty, business professionals and graduate student awareness of the economic, political and cultural environments that exist in sub-Saharan African today, and, ultimately, to leverage that first-hand awareness into competence and expertise in the classroom, boardrooms, and research campus and facilities throughout the U.S.  NOTE:  This year, the program offers a concurrent "spousal/adult guest" program so that family, friends, and/or colleagues can room with and experience the program with their faculty, professional or student participant.

Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan: Automated Export Compliance Seminar & Workshop

Speaker Speakers from U.S. Census, Border Control, etc.

Wed, May 9: AES SEMINAR Thu, May 10: PcLink WORKSHOP Is your company compliant? It is important you understand the current requirements of the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) and how to avoid penalties and possible seizure of your commodities. In addition it is vital to provide accurate and complete data in efforts to help the trade make sound business decisions. This seminar will include clarifications to the Foreign Trade Regulations including ITAR & EAR, an overview of the AES, commodity classification, hands-on AESpc Link training, and more. Click on the flyer for registration. Shawn Shannon, shawn@m-palm.com 443.895.8881 NOTE: Included in your registration fee is the option to meet with an DEC member for a one-on-one 20 minute counseling session. Please contact Jade Sims, sims@bus.msu.edu 517.884.1660

The Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan focuses on global issues of interest to the mid-Michigan business community. The monthly GB Club luncheons provide outstanding speakers and relaxed networking opportunities. With extensive international experience, the speakers wrap personal insights around a practical and up-to-the-minute approach to conducting international trade.

2012 Coface North America Country Risk Meeting

Coface Country Risk events focus on the outlook for business-to-business trade around the world. Attendees include companies, banks, academics, and professionals from the international trade community. The New York meeting focuses on the short-term economic situation on a region by region basis.

Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan: The World is Your Market: Export 101

Speaker Mark Kinsler, Vice President International Business & Attraction, MEDC

On May 24th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the US Census Bureau/Foreign Trade Division will bring their expertise to YOU. We have put together a half-day program of information on how to begin exporting--now. You will learn how to utilize Census information to do research and make informed decisions on entering new markets, and learn how to use SBA's online Export Business Planner. Get the tools you need to feel competent in the export game!

The Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan focuses on global issues of interest to the mid-Michigan business community. The monthly GB Club luncheons provide outstanding speakers and relaxed networking opportunities. With extensive international experience, the speakers wrap personal insights around a practical and up-to-the-minute approach to conducting international trade.

Six FDIB-Globalization Seminars: Intro to International Business, International Accounting, International Finance, Global Supply Chain Mgmt., International Management, International Marketing

The Globalization Seminars are designed to help business faculty bring international context into the classroom and to expand teaching and research skills. Each globalization seminar is built around a compreensive coursepack to support and demonstrate the globalization of business. These course materials will be available to seminar participants: course outlines, case studies, powerpoint slides, reference materials, and experiential exercises.

Academy of International Business Annual Meeting

The 2012 meeting will be held in Washington, DC, USA on June 30-July 3, 2012. The host schools are George Washington University and University of Maryland.