Officers
Robert P. Evans, Chairman
Partner, KPMG, LLP
Faramarz S. Fatemi, PhD., Vice Chairman
Director, School of History
Political & International Studies
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Robert D. Ferris, Vice Chairman
Executive Managing Director
R. F. Binder Partners, Inc.
Anthony Caldwell, Secretary
President
Global Business Communication Solutions, LLC
Scott Perkins, Treasurer
Vice President
NAI James E. Hanson, Inc.
Steven M. Richman, Esq., General Counsel
Partner, Duane Morris, LLP
Directors
Kenneth J. Brinker
Director, Logistics & World Tade
Pfizer, Inc. (Retired)
Amrah
Cardosa
General Manager, International Programs
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Gerald D. Hall
Secretary
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce (Retired)
Philip Kirschner
President
New Jersey Business & Industry Association
John D. McCahill
President
American Market Access, LLC
Gualberto Medina, Esq.
President
Cushman & Wakefield of NJ, Inc.
Stephen Orenchuk
Wachovia Securities
Milan Skacel
International Consultant
William Spitler
Hub Director – New York (Retired)
U. S. Export Assistance Centers
U. S. Department of Commerce
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New
Jersey World Trade Council
The New Jersey World Trade Council (“the Council”) is a
not-for-profit professional organization founded in 1965 to
promote international trade and investment between New
Jersey and the free world. While the Council is a private
sector initiative, it has always served as an important part
of the overall economic development initiative in New
Jersey. Governor Whitman once described the Council as:
“The preeminent organization promoting international trade
in New Jersey.” In many ways, the Council was the forerunner
of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
The Council has four key objectives:
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Promote global commerce for the State of New Jersey.
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Foster close ties with the diplomatic community of the
New York metropolitan area to strengthen international
relations.
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Serve as a professional networking organization for
international trade executives to support New Jersey’s
economy.
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Support international trade education to demystify the
barriers to cross border trade and investment.
The
Council’s Board of Directors is comprised of representatives
of leading New Jersey organizations and academia involved in
international trade and economic development. These include
multi-national corporations, law firms, accounting firms,
media, state and federal governmental agencies and
universities.
For more that 35 years, the Council has pursued these goals.
The efforts of the Council are best seen in the two annual
events it hosts. The first event each year is the Annual
Diplomatic Reception. This event is held at the University
Club in New York City and is usually attended by eighty to
one hundred members of the New York metropolitan area
diplomatic community. These are the official representatives
of their respective countries, assigned to serve in the New
York metropolitan region. Typically it is the Consul General
and/or the senior Trade Counselor of each Mission that
attends. The Consul General and Trade Counselor are the
principle contacts for doing business with or in their
country.
The event serves several purposes. It provides a venue to
introduce the diplomats to New Jersey. The fact that New
Jersey is a major component of the economy of the New York
metropolitan area is made directly to the attending
diplomats. The New Jersey Commerce Secretary has often
delivered that message. Those diplomats who are newly
accredited to their New York posts are welcomed individually
and presented with a lifetime honorary membership in the New
Jersey World Trade Council. This is intended to establish a
lasting connection with New Jersey.
The Reception also provides the occasion to promote the
other annual event hosted by the Council, The New Jersey
World Trade Conference. As each World Trade Conference
revolves around a featured country or region, the featured
country or region for that year is announced before an
audience of peers and the media. This serves the purpose of
promoting the current year’s event as well as developing
future interest on the part of other countries.
The second event, the New Jersey World Trade Conference,
usually takes place in May. The New Jersey World Trade
Conference is essentially two thirds of the business day.
The morning is devoted to conference style presentations
covering the essential components of how to do business
with, and in, the featured country. Presentations and panel
discussions cover legal, cultural, financial/banking and
other economic aspects of trade and investment. In addition,
there is an exhibit area where various organizations such as
banks, airlines, economic development agencies, chambers of
commerce and companies from the featured country and New
Jersey provide further insight into the interests of trade
and investments.
The highlight of the program is the international luncheon
at which New Jersey’s Governor has frequently joined the US
ambassador of the featured country, and perhaps one other
prominent speaker, in presentations that recognize mutual
interests, progress and opportunities. Traditionally, just
prior to the luncheon a private VIP reception is held to
provide the opportunity for featured speakers and officials
to meet informally and take selective interviews with the
media in attendance. During this time, conference attendees
take part in a reception in the exhibit area. The conference
typically enjoys an attendance of 400 – 500.
In addition, the Council meets on a regular basis to plan,
and improve these activities and to consider how it can most
effectively participate in and influence international trade
and investment agendas in New Jersey.
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