International Trade:
Save time and money with the Chambers of Industry and
Commerce
“Join – act – win“: This is how the Gießen-Friedberg Chamber of
Industry and Commerce (CIC) invites all its members to take part in
the Chamber’s activities and to make a difference. It is our goal
to let as many companies as possible benefit from our services, so
they can increase their own benefits.
What role does the division “International Trade” of the
CIC Gießen-Friedberg play in all this? And how can you contribute
to make a difference?
Purchasing in Far East? A Joint Venture in Mexico? How can I
profit from the Chinese Boom? What are the market chances in the EU
accession countries? Which strategies can I pursue to avoid product
liability claims in the USA?
Many companies from Middle Hesse face these and similar
questions on a daily basis. An experienced and well-trained team,
led by Robert Malzacher, is responsible for the support of the
member companies of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Gießen-Friedberg that have questions about foreign trade. “It is
our task to inform our member companies as best as possible about
foreign markets. Our services literally range from “A” as in
address inquiries to “Z” as in zero rating” explains the
manager of “International Affairs” of the CIC Gießen-Friedberg.
Especially to small and mid-size firms, the internationalization of
the economy often appears particularly difficult. “The CIC
Gießen-Friedberg helps its member companies from the areas Gießen,
Vogelsberg and Wetterau at their entry into foreign markets with
information, training, and consultation” says Malzacher. Edeltraud
Hoffmann, Ilona Soffel and Lutz Neumann support him in this
work.
Foreign Trade Events
Each
year the CIC carries out more than 30 foreign trade events in which
hundreds of participants are being trained. The selection of topics
ranges from seminars about custom and foreign trade and payment
legislation to the handling of payments abroad to information days
about market chances in certain foreign countries. A special
seminar for beginners - “Export 1 - Custom Practices of Exports” -
is set up for companies that up to this point have not been active
in exports or to people who are being confronted with the practical
handling of export customs in a company for the first time.
Frequently, the employees in these companies are being thrown “into
cold water” and work with “forms” from outdated custom procedures,
which were already used in the company without taking into
consideration the changes that regularly come about in custom and
foreign trade laws. The basis seminar for beginners systematically
and practically conveys to the participants the current custom and
foreign trade legal restrictions in the handling of exports. It can
very well be combined with the seminar for advanced learners
“Export 2- Custom Practices of Exports” or other seminar
modules.
Service Provider in Focus
“The German service industry is highly competitive. What has
long since been usual for machine construction, the automobile
industry or the medical technology can also bring new growth for
the service provider. Opportunities in foreign countries however
remain often unused“ reports Malzacher. In general, only the
marketing of goods and merchandise is brought into connection with
export possibilities. Although the service sector plays a major
role in the domestic German economy, chances of exports, for
example the positive aspects of internationalization of the German
service industry, receive scarce attention. Especially architects
and planners, construction and engineering offices, IT-service
providers and consultants, holiday and health experts as well as
other sectors can seize the opportunities. At the CIC, companies
can receive current specific information and contacts for the start
and the expansion of the export of services.
Foreign Trade Support Program
In order to support mid-sized companies developing
a new market in foreign countries, the state of Hesse has launched
a foreign trade consultation program. In addition to the promotion
for consultation services about foreign markets outside the
European domestic market, consultation about the introduction of
new products and services within the European Union can also be
supported. On the basis of funding guidelines, the CIC
Gießen-Friedberg advises on which individual projects can receive
funding. International fairs are good occasions to present one’s
company, but also to find customers and business partners. The CIC
also informs on which events of these types exist on domestic and
foreign markets, how to estimate their value and which fairs are
subsidized from public funds.
Chamber of Commerce Abroad
The
international network of the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad
(GCCA) belongs to the CIC-organization and registers about 99 per
cent of the German foreign trade through about 120 offices in 80
countries. Middle-Hesse companies have at their disposal helpful
contact persons to offer information on relevant markets. Since
2006 the new market entry of the GCCAs has a name that should say
it all: DEinternational. In this market entry – in collaboration
with the correspondent network and the know-how of the national
agency for foreign trade – various information about companies and
markets is being offered to the companies, most of it free of
charge. Under the label DEinternational the GCCAs as the “first
local address in the targeted market” bundle their local
connections, knowledge and services for interested medium-sized
businesses - this shall also be expressed in the new logo with the
superimposed label for Germany “DE”: Germany in the World.
The Organization where Entrepreneurs make a
Difference
“A key to successful foreign business is the
comprehensive knowledge of the target market. The companies can use
the networks of the CIC in addition to information as it is offered
free of charge in our email-newsletter “foreign trade news”. At the
CIC Gießen-Friedberg, in the circle of export managers, everyone
interested has the opportunity for exchange of experiences. In this
circle, interested companies can join in with our organization and
profit from first hand benefits” says Malzacher. “The circle of
export managers of the CIC network Middle-Hesse met for the first
time in 1997. Thus, our company network was able to celebrate a
small jubilee in 2007. We took this occasion to contact all of our
companies known to be active in foreign trade in order to further
promote this network with export managers and business managers in
all of Middle-Hesse”, explains Malzacher.
Since July 2005, a separate working group of
entrepreneurs has devoted itself to the Chinese business and
purchasing market. It currently counts 75 members. Addressees of
the working group are the entrusted business managers or employees
of companies from Middle-Hesse that operate in China. They are
informed about conditions and possibilities for market entry for
companies in Middle-Hesse through a series of events in irregular
intervals. The extensive exchange of experiences and the network
culture are crucial tops on the agenda. If required, appropriate
domestic experts and experts from China are invited to lecture on
specific topics.
Service Center in Friedberg and Gießen
The CIC provides service centers at its locations in Friedberg
and Gießen. In Friedberg, Ingelborg Steyh, Hannelore Wagner and
Irmhild Schmittberger offer consultation to clients. In Gießen,
Heike Krause, Ilona Soffel and Ingrid Wolf-Hof are the contact
partners. In addition to the initial consultation on all CIC
business areas, important documents needed for the foreign trade
are being certified and certificates of origin are being issued by
the members of the service teams.
A preferred instrument to simplify custom
formalities is the use of the international carnet A.T.A. The
temporary import of goods such as goods for fairs and exhibitions,
commercial test samples, goods for test trials or goods for testing
purposes or fitting tools is considerably facilitated by the use of
a carnet. The user of a carnet must give no guaranties in the
target countries and does not have to deposit import duties and the
like. The CIC service centers in Gießen and Friedberg issue round
about 400 carnets for firms and individuals per year. The spectrum
of itemized goods on the carnets again was wide in 2007: from
hammer and compass to “dental treatment units” and constructions of
tents for fairs and exhibitions. The range of sums insured reached
from as little as a few euros up to a half a million euros. In the
course of this work, the collective guaranty insurance fees the CIC
Gießen-Friedberg contracted on with the carnet owners amounted to
over 8 million euros.
Malzacher outlines: “This is how our employees create
substantial value for our member companies. Also in terms of
carnets, with our advice we help companies save time and
money”.
Contact:
Robert Malzacher
picture by Bernd Sterzl / pixelio.de
