International Business Counseling Shows Changing Face of Asian American Trade
Published: 04/10/2008 by Ted Meinhover as reported in the Asian American Press
When she first began counseling small business on international import and export twenty years ago, Rita Green says that many members of the Asian American community took advantage of the service.
Today, however, the faces of those seeking her counseling on international trade are quite different. This demographic shift represents changes in the Twin Cities' Asian American community and the international business it conducts.
The counseling session on export and import for metro small businesses will no longer be held at 9:00 am at the Minnesota Trade Office located at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in downtown St. Paul. The session, part of the free counseling that the organization SCORE Minnesota provides to small businesses, is designed to help new and veteran small business owners and operators in the metro area succeed in their international import and export endeavors.
According to Rita Green of SCORE, the location of the Minnesota Trade Office in downtown St. Paul makes it difficult for those wishing to attend the counseling park their cars.
Ms. Green said that members of the Asian American community that seek her expertise on international trade have become fewer and fewer since she began her work as a small business consultant. This is not to say, however, that Asian Americans have engaged in less international trade than they used to. On the contrary, according to the United States Department of Commerce, trade between the United States and Asia has no less than quadrupled in nearly every field. Green says that the Asian American business community has become more independent and self sufficient, growing strong communities and establishing international contacts. While many members of this business community have grown up in Minnesota, they still benefit from strong business ties in Asia, she says. Now that the Asian American community is more established, the businesses and their operators can be successful without help from the outside.
Recently, says Green, her sessions have been attended by nationals from other, more recently immigrated communities, especially Africans. These communities are not yet well established, and are not sure how to take advantage of their international contacts.
Besides the import/ export consultancy of Rita Green, which is free, SCORE offers many other services. The SCORE Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneurial education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Our public service mission is to provide face-to-face and email business counseling to help small businesses evaluate plans, stabilize, grow, innovate and succeed. SCORE can be contacted at www.score-mn.org.
These days, Ms. Green meets people at the Barnes and Noble in Eagan, after making appointment. The appointments occur at 10am on Saturdays.
When asked whether she has seen many success stories, she says, "Sure! But it’s up to the client, they have to push forward. When it comes to business, if it's new and different, go for it!!"
Today, however, the faces of those seeking her counseling on international trade are quite different. This demographic shift represents changes in the Twin Cities' Asian American community and the international business it conducts.
The counseling session on export and import for metro small businesses will no longer be held at 9:00 am at the Minnesota Trade Office located at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in downtown St. Paul. The session, part of the free counseling that the organization SCORE Minnesota provides to small businesses, is designed to help new and veteran small business owners and operators in the metro area succeed in their international import and export endeavors.
According to Rita Green of SCORE, the location of the Minnesota Trade Office in downtown St. Paul makes it difficult for those wishing to attend the counseling park their cars.
Ms. Green said that members of the Asian American community that seek her expertise on international trade have become fewer and fewer since she began her work as a small business consultant. This is not to say, however, that Asian Americans have engaged in less international trade than they used to. On the contrary, according to the United States Department of Commerce, trade between the United States and Asia has no less than quadrupled in nearly every field. Green says that the Asian American business community has become more independent and self sufficient, growing strong communities and establishing international contacts. While many members of this business community have grown up in Minnesota, they still benefit from strong business ties in Asia, she says. Now that the Asian American community is more established, the businesses and their operators can be successful without help from the outside.
Recently, says Green, her sessions have been attended by nationals from other, more recently immigrated communities, especially Africans. These communities are not yet well established, and are not sure how to take advantage of their international contacts.
Besides the import/ export consultancy of Rita Green, which is free, SCORE offers many other services. The SCORE Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneurial education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Our public service mission is to provide face-to-face and email business counseling to help small businesses evaluate plans, stabilize, grow, innovate and succeed. SCORE can be contacted at www.score-mn.org.
These days, Ms. Green meets people at the Barnes and Noble in Eagan, after making appointment. The appointments occur at 10am on Saturdays.
When asked whether she has seen many success stories, she says, "Sure! But it’s up to the client, they have to push forward. When it comes to business, if it's new and different, go for it!!"
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