By Connor Adams Sheets
A unique opportunity for Queens business owners is coming to Flushing next week.
Queens Goes Global, a business development event targeted at existing business owners, will bring together the government and the private sector in a dialogue about how to get involved in international trade.
Co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, F&T Group — which will provide the space where the event will be held — and the offices of state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and City Councilman Peter Koo (R-Flushing), it will be a rare chance to learn about private and government initiatives to spur global business.
“Opportunities like this will really help people cross international barriers and create business,” Anita Liu, associate vice president of F&T, said at an event launching the initiative last week.
Queens Goes Global will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 3 in Queens Crossing’s second-floor MuDan Banquet Hall at 136-17 39th Ave. and its speakers will include Meng, Koo and representatives from the Harlem U.S. Export Assistance Center; the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of International Trade; American River International, a leading New York-based international importer; and the city Economic Development Corp.
The event is not merely targeted at large businesses already engaged in international commerce, but also at smaller outfits hoping to tap into global opportunities.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the government has a lot of opportunities for international trade,” said Man-Li Kuo Lin, business development specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s New York office. “The Aug. 3 event is to teach businesses how to reach out to do international trade. Even if you just want to attend an international show, you can get government assistance to help with that.”
The event is also an opportunity for business owners to get the word out about their products and to network with other professionals and government officials.
For more information about Queens Goes Global or to register, please send an e-mail stating your intention to attend or your question and your name, company name, phone number and e-mail address to man-li.lin@sba.gov.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
