ECA News

DHL Export Barometer

Thu, 17 May 2012 06:06:00 GMT

Given the importance of International Trade to the Australia economy and the role export in particular plays employment, research & development, innovation and building our nations competitiveness, researching trends and behaviours in global business is critical and therefore major priority of the Export Council of Australia. As such we would like to invite you to take part in the DHL Export Barometer.

The DHL Barometer surveys exporters around Australia each year about their views on the exchange rate, share market, skill shortages and other important issues that impact on their global business prospects.

The DHL Export Barometer is used by the Reserve Bank of Australia, other economic policy institutions and reported widely throughout the Australian media.
Your views as a current exporter would be highly appreciated and will help DHL to provide a more accurate snapshot of the experience and views of Australian exporters in the current global economic environment.

To complete the survey, please use the following link: http://www.informinsights.com/InformEVMStatic/Documents/6140/intro.html

The online multiple-choice survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and you will be responding directly to DHL. Please note that the survey is open only to Australian exporters only.

Should you decide to participate, a copy of the DHL Export Barometer executive summary will be emailed to you in late July 2012, giving you a head start on identifying key international business trends and planning your export strategies for the coming year.

Export Council of Australia- a new voice for Australia's exporters

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:16:00 GMT

This month heralds a major change for the Australian Institute of Export. Following extensive research the Institute after fifty five years officially on the 28th May will reposition its events and advocacy activities under the name Export Council of Australia while retaining the Australian Institute of Export for the delivery of education and training in international trade.

With a new contemporary look the Council, which represents predominantly SME exporters, will tackle the wide range of issues affecting this important sector of the Australian economy. At the same time under the banner of the Australian Institute of Export, the council will continue to provide first class skills development programs for exporters, importers, service providers and especially those new to international trade who need the process demystified.

While this change has been brought about for a range of reasons, the primary purpose is to create a body that can represent exporters and work with other sector specific organisations to effectively engage with Government. At the same time the Council will continue to run seminars, workshops and awards programs, represent the Export Consultants Group and provide exporters with advice and information aimed at enhancing their capability and international trade performance.

Another key activity of the Council will be research. Working with universities, Government agencies and other associations, the Council aims to undertake research on issues that focus on providing input to enhance the export process and Australia’s competitiveness in international markets. The Council too will provide a vehicle for research work undertaken by other associations to expand their reach and influence to Government.

Prioritising issues is always a key factor. To address this, the Council will form working groups for key industry sectors to provide advice, prioritise projects and address key issues, particularly that of competitiveness, particularly that of competitiveness. At same the time, given the diversity of export activity between various states, local committees will be formed to address each state’s specific needs and to ensure their issues get onto the Councils national agenda.

While the Council’s activities will evolve over time, the immediate priorities will be building membership, forming the Council and developing relationships with other bodies and associations that share common goals. High on its list will be researching the cost of trade facilitation in Australia and making recommendations to Government on what issues need to be addressed to both enhance Australia’s competitiveness and streamline the process of doing business offshore. High on the agenda too will be suggested modification to the Export Market Development Grants Scheme, Trade Finance issues concerning SME exporters and promoting an all of Government/Industry approach to “pitching” for major international projects particularly in the services sector.

At the same time the importance of continued improvement in the content and delivery of education and training will remain an important Council agenda item. Free of all the other programs the Australian Institute of Export will focus on its core activity of skills development which is where it all began fifty five years ago. In 2013 the Institute will launch a program under the banner “Certified Trade Professional”. Aimed at both companies and service providers, this comprehensive on-line program will allow participants to gain certification for the levels achieved and build skills over time via a disciplined professional development program. While CTP will form an important element of the Institutes activities, face to face public and in-house courses will continue so too the accredited distance delivered Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of International Business Management.

This is a new beginning for what has been one of Australia’s longest serving associations. It comes at a time when Australia’s export activity is experiencing severe change led by a resources boom, a high dollar and a persistent Global Financial Crisis. Our manufacturing, education and tourism sectors to name just three are experiencing great difficulty and the light at the end of the tunnel seems quite some distance away. This is the time when we need to assess and address issues that impact on our competitiveness. The Council looks forward to working with Government, its members, sponsors and allies to address these issues and achieve outcomes that will benefit Australia’s wellbeing.

For further information regarding the Export Council of Australia please contact either:

Ian Murray, Executive Director- Export Council of Australia on 02 8243 7410 or ianmurray@export.org.au

Lisa McAuley, National Manager- Export Council of Australia on 02 8243 7400 or lisamcauley@export.org.au

2012 Premier’s NSW Export Awards- Celebrating 50 years of making an imprint on global trade

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:12:00 GMT

The success and sustainable growth of an export business depends on its ability to face challenges head on and seek new opportunities. The newly launched Export Council of Australia knows how tough it has been for exporters over the last few years, which is why we have created the Council as the voice for Australia’s exporters.

It is because we have seen first hand the hurdles exporters have experienced, with the continuing strength of the Australian dollar, increased overseas competition and high domestic costs of doing business from Australia, that the critical issue of presenting a stronger voice to Government is being addressed.

Maintaining international sales in the current environment is not easy, yet many exporting companies have continued to deliver strong export results and this is what we would like to acknowledge at the awards this year.

The NSW Export Awards is about highlighting companies that have shown a commitment and determination to export and who, against adversity, seek new ways to compete in the international market.

Now more than ever, we realise how important recognising success remains and this is why we encourage you to consider nominating your company for an award this year.

This year also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Premier’s NSW Export Awards program, now the longest running business awards program in Australia. Over the last 50 years over 324 NSW companies have been recognised for their exporting achievements, many of whom first entered the awards as an Emerging Exporter or Small Business and have grown into major international brands.

I would like to encourage all exporters big and small to consider applying this year and reward your team for their continued hard work. Please click here to access the online application site.

The Premier’s NSW Export Awards program is managed by the Export Council of Australia (Australian Institute of Export.) Please contact: Lisa McAuley on: lisamcauley@export.org.au or 02 8243 7400.

Help celebrate 50th years of export innovation by entering the Australian Export Awards

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:33:00 GMT

The Australian Export Awards honour local companies that have achieved success in their exporting operations and recognise the contribution they make to Australia’s economy.

EFIC is proud to be a platinum supporter of the awards, which are one of the longest running business award programmes in Australia. They have showcased a diverse range of applicants and winners, from small rural companies to major household names, such as The Wiggles and Rio Tinto.

In 2012, the awards celebrate their 50th year with a prestigious ceremony being held in the nation’s capital, Canberra. Since the first awards ceremony in 1963, some 779 Australian businesses have won a national Australian Export Award, demonstrating the breadth of Australia’s capability and the ability of local companies to establish a leading edge in many industry sectors across the globe.

During that time, the needs of exporters have vastly changed. Australian exports have transformed from being primarily agricultural-based to being more service-orientated, with more small and medium-sized companies using innovative practices to grow their overseas operations.

The changing nature of the national export landscape is underlined by two vastly different national finalists last year: agribusiness Almondco Australia and health care solutions provider, Aspen Medical.

Almondco started as a growers’ cooperative in the 1930s and has grown into a multi-award winning, regional agribusiness. In the past five years, Almondco’s export sales have increased more than sixfold. Export awards judges have been impressed by the company’s international strategy that focuses on high quality partners, the effective use of technology and solid financing.

Aspen Medical provides complete health care solutions and has been exporting services since its inception in 2003. In 2010–11, the company recorded a 30 per cent increase in exports and secured new contracts and new projects in the Middle East and Africa, respectively. The Export Awards judging panel considered Aspen to be the outstanding candidate due to its significant and profitable export growth in the last financial year.

If like these companies, you believe your exporting or international trade success should be recognised you should enter the Australian Export Awards.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, please visit: www.exportawards.gov.au

AIEX announce education special for May

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:30:00 GMT

With many international markets in disarray, it is more important than ever that your international trade team are properly skilled and resourced.

Take advantage of an Export or Import course that covers all the latest developments in International Trade, with a focus on correct procedures and documentation.

And with nothing in the budget for business, we would like to offer all course bookings paid from now until the 15th May a $50 Myer shopping voucher ($25 for on-line courses).

For details on upcoming courses go to the Education pages on www.aiex.com.au or email education@aiex.com.au.

The export sector ignored again in the 2012 budget

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:39:00 GMT

It should come as no surprise, said Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Export Council of Australia, that the budget had nothing of major significance for small business and absolutely nothing specifically for the exporter. The most appropriate word to describe it would be underwhelmed. From an SME perspective the loss carry-back scheme may appeal to a few but does nothing to help profitable businesses grow or help unincorporated small businesses. It certainly goes nowhere near the anticipated 1% reduction in the corporate tax rate. So in comes the carbon tax in July and corporate Australia essentially gets no real offsets.

We are starting to think that exporting is a dirty word. The budget gave nothing to exporters despite the high dollar, the GFC, high interest rates, high labour costs and continued high trade facilitation costs all of which are killing Australia’s competitiveness. Someone has forgotten that export is 22% of GDP and one job in five is export related. And let’s not get carried away with the rhetoric that resources will carry us through. The resources sector does not employ that many people and what is more Australia needs a broad based skills set and a diversified export sector for future growth and moreover for survival. That demands a Government with a vision for the future.

All we seem to have ended up with is reduced resources for the agencies that support the drive to build Australia’s exports.

While EMDG recipients will probably receive a 100% payout for 2011/12 this probably results more from the reduced benefits introduced to the scheme in 2011 and companies holding back on their overseas marketing expenditure than from the $150 million cap being set at just the right level. While nobody really expected an increase in EMDG, one would have thought the Government could have brought the second tranche payment forward given that the money is fully allocated and the scheme fully funded. And would it not have provided the Government with some positive news, for a change for a struggling sector.

It’s exactly these sorts of things that are driving us to push full steam ahead on the introduction of the Export Council of Australia. With your support the council will say and do things that need to be said and done to support the export community particularly those in the SME sector. It’s about time exporters were given greater encouragement to do what they do best and build our presence in overseas markets.

For further information on the Export Council's initiatives please contact Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Export Council of Australia on 02 8243 7410 or ianmurray@export.org.au

How secure are your contracts? Managing bribery and corruption risk in foreign markets

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:01:00 GMT

The bribery and corruption landscape is changing – the legislation is getting tougher, the prosecutions more frequent and the penalties more severe. Australian exporters who continue to deny that bribery and corruption may impact them are leaving their businesses exposed. The payment of bribes to secure contracts in foreign markets has not been regarded as an acceptable way to do business and governments around the world are responding.

The changing regulatory landscape

In 1997, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) Anti-Bribery Convention (“the OECD Convention”), a global anti-corruption initiative, criminalised foreign bribery in countries that represent over 75% of world exports. The OECD Convention was borne out of the principle that bribery of foreign government officials in international business transactions poses a serious threat to the export industry; it undermines economic development and distorts international competition. Since 1997, we have seen legislation and regulators driving change.

The last two years has seen sweeping changes with the launch of the UK Bribery Act (2010), tougher penalties and sanctions under the Australian Criminal Code and an increase in the USA’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prosecutions. In addition, in November 2011 a discussion paper was launched by Mr Brendan O’Connor (the Minister for Justice) proposing the removal of the facilitation payments defence from Australia’s bribery laws.

Recent Australian enforcement activity

We have also seen an unprecedented level of investigation in our own backyard:

In each case bribes have allegedly been paid by individuals acting on behalf of reputable entities in order to secure contracts in overseas markets. So what are exporters to do? Working with foreign agents to secure contracts is often required to set up and grow an export business. Relying on local knowledge is key to securing contracts, and the making of such payments is “just how business gets done” in certain countries, isn’t it?
The new reality is this – the legislation has global reach, the regulators are going to be relentless in prosecuting matters and in the case of the UK Bribery Act the financial penalties have no limit and actions can be brought against those who fail to adequately manage the risk. Australian exporters must respond and that starts with identifying the risks and proactively managing them, at times in countries where corruption is considered more likely to occur.

Key legislative requirements

From an Australian export perspective, there are three key pieces of legislation exporters should familiarise themselves with - the Australian Criminal Code Act (Cth), the US FCPA and the recently enacted UK Bribery Act (2010). The extra-territorial reach of both the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act means that Australian companies could be captured not only by our own legislation, but by US and UK laws and the local laws governing the country (or counties) where they operate. Exporters that are of the view that ‘it couldn’t happen to us’ may want to rethink their position.

Case Study – FCPA in action

What happened?

+ Panalpina World Transport (Holding) Ltd (“PWT”) was headquartered in Switzerland and provided freight and logistic services for customers within the oil and gas industry.
+ PWT operated in countries including Nigeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Russia and Kazakhstan.
+ Between 2002 and 2007 PWT’s subsidiaries and affiliates engaged in improper payments and bribes to foreign officials.

How it happened?

+ Payments were made on behalf of PWT customers (as defined in the FCPA) in order to avoid the customs process, reduce tariffs payable and avoid the assessment of proper duties, avoid penalties for items that had been improperly exported and to secure logistics contracts from overseas government entities. In many instances PWT’s customers knew of the bribes.
+ The bribes were paid to officials in order to cause officials to overlook insufficient, incorrect or false documents and in certain instances to circumvent local laws all together.

Why it happened?

+ PWT had an inadequate compliance structure to deal with such issues
+ A culture (within PWT and in some cases their customers) that tolerated/encouraged such behaviours as a means of ‘getting things done’ quickly and efficiently
+ The establishment of subsidiaries all around the world, acting as agents for PWT led to wide spread systemic corruption issues

Outcomes

+ PWT as well as 5 oil and gas companies (customers of PWT) have been the subject of investigations under the FCPA, the Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
+ The companies agreed to pay over US$156million in criminal penalties.
+ Each company is required to implement and adhere to a set of enhanced corporate compliance and reporting obligations.
+ The Nigerian operations of PWT were shut-down and numerous senior executives (in various countries) lost their positions.

What is the risk for exporters?

All Australian exporters face significant challenges in setting up business in overseas markets – unfamiliar legislation, diverse cultures, different local business customs, and foreign languages can all present significant barriers to securing contracts – as a result Australian businesses are often heavily reliant on local partners or agents to guide them through the process and this is often when problems can arise. Without appropriate safeguards Australian exporters can be left vulnerable by relying on the advice and services of their local agents, JV partners or third party contractors.

The new UK Bribery Act (2010) prescribes that not only are there severe penalties for bribes being made but organisations can also be penalised for not doing enough to manage the risk. The legislation makes reference to organisations needing to ensure ‘adequate procedures’ are in place to mitigate the risk. So what can you do as an exporter? Listed below are the ‘11 must-do’s’ that exporters need to put on their ‘to do list’, to manage the risk and protect their business if or when the regulator comes knocking…

What should exporters do to manage the risk? The 11 must do’s

1. Understand the legislation and how it applies to your business – obtain legal advice if necessary

2. Top level Commitment – a commitment that begins at the board level and makes its clear your business has “zero tolerance” when it comes to the payment of bribes or corrupt behaviour

3. Ensure you have strong and well communicated policies in place; policies that all employees, suppliers, contractors, agents and JV partners are aware of and understand

4. Identify the key risk areas in your export supply chain and prioritise these on the basis of perceived likelihood or risk

5. Conduct background checks on all organisations and individuals that you deal with – suppliers, contractors, agents and JV partners

6. Obtain a legal review of all contracts and agreements before signing

7. Ensure your business has strong financial controls and robust contract management procedures - if something appears too good to be true, it probably is

8. Ensure milestones of contracts are met and attend relevant meetings with suppliers, contractors, agents and JV partners

9. Ensure independent quality audits of suppliers, contractors, agents and JV partners premises are scheduled and completed

10. Provide ongoing training and management of staff sent overseas to secure contracts, employ personnel or engage in negotiations on your behalf

11. Establish a system for reporting suspicious behaviour.

Where to from here

One thing is certain, combating bribery and corruption should be at the forefront of all Australian exporters’ minds. The risks are real and the consequences can be devastating. Foreign bribery distorts competitive markets; undermines good governance and it has the potential to put Australia’s reputation as an exporter at risk. Australian exporters who understand and proactively manage the risk will go a long way in protecting themselves and the markets into which they export. Getting it right can have benefits that extend far beyond just ticking the right boxes to satisfy a regulator; the future of your export business can depend on it.

Avoiding the unwanted investigative costs and reputational damage caused by a bribery and corruption scandal through proper risk management processes is well worth the investment. But should the unthinkable happen, knowing who to turn to and how to manage the issue can be just as important. Having safeguarded your business from the risks, you and your advisers will be in a much better position to deal with what ensues.

If you need any further information in relation to any of the issues discussed above or any other advice in relation to protecting your export business from the risks of bribery corruption please contact us.Our national team has undertaken investigations into bribery and corruptions allegations in Australia and around the world, we are well placed to understand how issues can arise and how best to manage the risks.

Matt Fehon
Partner, Forensic
t: +61 2 9338 2680
e: mfehon@mcgrathnicol.com
o: Sydney

Sara Deady
Manager, Forensic
t: +61 2 9248 9943
e: sdeady@mcgrathnicol.com
o: Sydney

Website:www.mcgrathnicol.com

Advanced Manufacturing Plan for Australia

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:20:00 GMT

- Article by Kristina Kovalenko, Project Manager- Export Council of Australia

Mr Liveris, appointed Co-Chairman of Barack Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in the United States and the author of Make it America, introduced the new policy with the aim to induce domestic and foreign growth and investment in Australia’s manufacturing sector. During the conference he highlighted the importance of developing partnerships between universities and government in order to reach a more effective use of Australia’s resources and skills which stimulate high-value products. The CEO of the Dow Chemical Company accentuated that it was time to stop being dependant on minerals and energy, and start aiming for “a balanced, sustainable economy that adds value to resources”.

Although Australia managed to sidestep the 2008 global economic recession, keeping its level of unemployment fairly low, Liveris found that in the last few years employment growth across the economy has gradually slowed down and that the continuous exchange rate strength has become a serious issue for the manufacturing sector. The level of global competitiveness has fallen and as a result total productivity has decreased as well.

“Over the past 50 years, Australia’s manufacturing sector has shrunk from nearly a third of the overall economy to just 8.6%. We have seen factories-and the jobs in them- shipped overseas as other countries become more competitive- and we become less”.

Mr Liveris stressed that change will bring global competition, increased economic growth and job creation into Australia.

On the other hand, from his point of view the carbon tax and renewable energy targets would damage the county’s competitiveness. Instead, the Dow Chemical Company CEO recommended that the government should have put its main emphasis on low-cost savings, which could be achieved through improved energy efficiency.

According to the plan, half of all new natural gasfields will be reserved for domestic use, which therefore will provide businesses with reasonably priced gas and establish global competition.

Liveris announced that the 5 major targets of the new Manufacturing Plan will stand for: greater investments in innovation, the maximization of value add through energy feedstocks, better education and training, higher access to global markets, and the creation of public private partnerships.

In addition, the Advanced Manufacturing Plan for Australia will also bring the focus on mathematics and science in schools.

According to Liveris, so far Australia was lacking the recipe for using its ingredients effectively (the highly skilled workforce and large quantities of natural resources). He strongly believes that the new plan will be the right remedy for it.

Without a doubt, manufacturing plays an important role in a country’s overall economic performance. Approximately a quarter of Australian research and development is carried out by this sector. With the help of the new Advanced Manufacturing Plan, a professional guide for policy makers is going to be delivered and it will encourage them to create new policies for developing high-value manufacturing.

Launch of eServices

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:47:00 GMT

Renewing IP rights and paying for the registration of trade marks has never been easier.

IP Australia is pleased to announce the launch of eServices. eServices is a secure electronic business portal that allows you to register, login and conduct selected transactions when and where it is convenient for you.

In the first release of eServices customers can renew all IP rights and submit trade mark registrations electronically, and pay for them online using VISA or MasterCard. You can also access new features such as the option to save your requests, access your eServices transaction history and update your details.

The services and transactions within eServices have built-in checks and pre-populated fields to save you valuable time and help ensure the accuracy of the information.

Over the coming months we will be adding more transactions and services to the portal so that it will become a one-stop-shop to help you manage your valuable IP assets.

For more information visit www.ipaustralia.gov.au.

Atradius Collections launches the International Debt Collection Handbook in a renewed 2012 edition

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:45:00 GMT

The new 2012 version has been restructured to provide information-seekers with more detailed information as well as easier navigation to finding crucial information on debt collections in the different countries. It is a key and well-received tool with information on a successful approach in handling foreign debts, especially targeting organisations which lack in-house resources in international collections or credit management.

Please click here to download the International Debt Collection Handbook from the Atradius website >

Atradius Economic Outlook April 2012

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:07:00 GMT

The global economic outlook has recently stabilised, after a period of rapid deterioration in the second half of last year. We expect slower global growth and a mild recession in the Eurozone in 2012, with significant downward risks to the global outlook.

Global economic growth will fall to 2.6% as advanced economies slow sharply and emerging economies cool down.

Risks to the outlook are significant: the crisis in the Eurozone has been only temporarily alleviated by the European Central Bank, and unrest in the Middle East may lead to a further increase in the price of oil.

The Eurozone economy is expected to contract, with Latin American growth slowing to 3.6%, while Asian growth increases to 4.9%. The United States is continuing its recovery with predicted growth of 2.3%.

Credit conditions remain tight across advanced markets and emerging Europe as the financial sector consolidates its debt and seeks additional capital to comply with new regulation.

Our forecasts project an increase in insolvencies across many European economies.

An important driver of the global economy is growth in Asia and Latin America, with emerging economies continuing to catch up with the advanced economies and increase in economic importance. Meanwhile, the Eurozone debt crisis deepened over the second half of 2011, and is pulling the real economy into recession. Through financial and trade linkages, the Eurozone crisis is proving the largest risk to the global outlook.

Country risk assessments review- Improvement in Japan and the United States, but euro zone risk on the rise

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:05:00 GMT

Warning: Coface country risk assessment measures the average level of payment defaults by companies in a given country within the framework of their commercial transactions. It does not pertain to sovereign debt. To determine country risk, Coface combines the economic, financial and political outlook of the country, Coface’s payment experience and business climate assessment. Assessments have a seven-level scale: A1, A2, A3, A4, B, C and D.

In Coface’s view, the world economy is presently marked by divergence between the three major advanced zones: the economic contraction in the euro zone is worsening (-0.3% currently forecast in 2012 versus -0.1% previously), whereas North American growth is stabilizing at 2%, and activity is recovering in Japan, with 1.8% growth after posting -0.9% in 2011.

In this contrasted economic context, Coface has upgraded its assessments of seven countries, including the United States and Japan, and downgraded those of nine other countries, including Portugal and Argentina.

American and Japanese companies are benefitting from their favourable economic outlook

Signs of economic recovery have led Coface to place the A2 assessment of the United States under positive watch and to remove the negative watch on Japan’s A1 assessment.

The confidence and consumption of American households are picking up, despite rising petrol prices and the stagnation of disposable income. The improvement in the labour market now involves a significant number of states, but the pace remains insufficient to rapidly decrease unemployment.

Generally, corporate debt levels are very low and companies are highly profitable. In 2011, corporate investment increased. However, American SMEs remain fragile due to their difficulties in obtaining credit. Coface notes a good performance in its payment experience with American companies.

After the abrupt downturn following the catastrophic events of March 2011, the Japanese economy is expected to recover, driven by domestic demand and stronger exports. Exports, the traditional engine for Japanese growth, will benefit from the recovery in US economic activity and from the vitality of emerging Asian countries. Even in an environment of economic contraction, the payment behaviour of Japanese companies has remained positive.

European companies still in turmoil, notably in Portugal

The economic contraction in the euro zone is worsening, particularly in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The growth forecasts for 2012 for Italy and Spain have been revised to -1.5% and -1.2%, respectively.

In January 2012, Coface downgraded these two major euro zone economies to A4 and its payment experience with these countries continues to deteriorate in early 2012.

At the same time, Coface observes a marked deterioration in the financial situation of Portuguese companies. The country’s recession is likely to deepen even further in 2012 (-4%). Downgraded to A4 in March 2011, then placed under negative watch in September 2011, Portugal has now been lowered by one notch to B. Despite receiving European assistance, the solvency of the State continues to worsen and the period of austerity measures has been extended in the event of an expected downturn in European demand. The situation of Portuguese companies, like those in Spain, is characterized by an explosion of external debt, currently in excess of 180% of GDP, which explains their extreme vulnerability to negative economic developments. Since 2011, Coface has registered a surge in nonpayments, in particular in the construction, distribution and textile sectors.

In Australia and New Zealand, despite strong growth, the manufacturing sectors are in trouble

Despite the solid growth expected in 2012, +2.8% for Australia and +3.2% for New Zealand, the A1 assessments of these two countries are now placed under negative watch. Driven by the mining sector, this growth veils the difficulties of the manufacturing and tourism sectors, which are more sensitive to the price-competitiveness mix. With the exception of the mining sector, companies are experiencing difficulties in obtaining credit, resulting in longer payment periods. Over half of recently surveyed Australian companies indicated that payment periods granted to their clients have grown by more than 60 days. In February 2012, on a six-month sliding scale, business bankruptcies increased by 17% in Australia and by 109% in New Zealand.

In Argentina, the government’s restrictive measures put an end to the risk improvement noted in 2011

Coface has removed the positive watch on Argentina’s C assessment as a result of the worsening business situation in early 2012. Coface notes payment delays following the establishment of currency exchange and import control measures, against a backdrop of deteriorating public and external accounts. In emerging countries, protectionist tendencies, which are especially strong in Latin America,have become a key factor in corporate credit risk. Despite an often positive economic trend, the access to foreign currency for importers may sometimes, and in an predictable manner, become more difficult due to a certain regulatory decisions.

Download full report here

Press contact: Maria Krellenstein / 33 (0)1 49 02 16 29 / maria_krellenstein@coface.com

Press contact: Tania Muniz / 61 (0)2 8235 8615 / tania_muniz@coface.com.au

About Coface

The Coface Group, a worldwide leader in credit insurance, offers companies around the globe solutions to protect them against the risk of financial default of their clients, both on the domestic market and for export. In 2011, the Group posted a consolidated turnover of €1.6 billion. 4,600 staff in 66 countries provide a local service worldwide.

Each quarter, Coface publishes its assessments of country risk for 157 countries, based on its unique knowledge of companies’ payment behaviour and on the expertise of its 250 underwriters. In France, Coface manages export public guarantees on behalf of the French state.

Coface is a subsidiary of Natixis whose Core Tier 1 ratio is 10.2% end December 2011.
www.coface.com

Despite a slowdown in 2012 the economy remains resilient- Germany

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:02:00 GMT

Despite a slowdown in 2012 the economy remains resilient:

• German GDP growth is forecast to slow down in 2012.
• Domestic demand will be the main driver of economic growth.
• German exporters have outperformed forecasts in early 2012.
• The German economy remains susceptible to downside risks.
• Atradius estimate that corporate insolvencies will increase 5 % in 2012 and level off in 2013.

Download full country report from here

Technology companies line up for CEBIT Australia

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:17:00 GMT

The NSW Government will showcase 16 innovative and early stage technology companies on its stand at CeBIT Australia 2012 next month, Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner said.
Mr Stoner said CeBIT Australia, the Asia Pacific’s largest ICT industry exhibition and conference held at Darling Harbour from 22-24 May, will showcase NSW as an international technology business and investment location.

“Today companies are relying heavily on technology to optimise business processes, enhance customer support, streamline supply chain management and drive innovation, setting the scene for a vibrant CeBIT Australia 2012,” Mr Stoner said.

“CeBIT will be a chance to showcase our best innovative technology SMEs and their solutions to an international audience, helping spark global business collaborations and opportunities.

“The NSW Government will be targeting international business, trade, investment and R&D links, with a particular focus on CeBIT Australia 2012 partner country India.

“Research company Gartner forecasts worldwide IT spending will reach nearly $3.7 trillion in 2012 with the cloud, social media, mobile technologies, and an explosion of digital information revolutionising business and society.

“In India, IT spending is expected to reach nearly $80 billion, up more than nine per cent from 2011. With continued strong growth expected, exciting business opportunities will be created for us to explore.

“This year India will have more than 70 companies at CeBIT. The Indian delegation to CeBIT will be led by India’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Minister of Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal.”
The NSW Government will showcase 16 innovative and early stage technology companies on its stand at CeBIT Australia 2012, including seven projects supported by its Collaborative Solutions program.

“Technology entrepreneurs are drivers of economic and social progress, and rapidly growing entrepreneurial enterprises, including tech startups, can be important sources of innovation, employment and productivity growth,” Mr Stoner said.

MEDIA: Office of the Deputy Premier (02) 9228 5209

Companies on the NSW stand at CeBIT Australia 2012

Roamz: location-based mobile application that intelligently gathers content from the social web to give users real-time local knowledge about places and activities that might interest them. www.roamz.com

Smarttrack RFID: developing the “moveME” solution, initially for cultural institutions, to deliver location-specific content and way-finding to visitors’ mobiles and gather data on visitor movements. www.move-me.net

Tapit Media: allows people to instantly download digital information to their mobiles by tapping a Tapit-enabled symbol using near field communications. www.tapit.com.au

Mijura: PriorityCentre web application used globally by finance, consulting and services firms to work collaboratively, manage meetings and organise tasks online. www.mijura.com

OneSaas: a multi-point integration platform synching eCommerce, accounting, invoicing, point of sale, inventory, fulfilment and customer relationship management data from leading cloud services for thousands of businesses. www.OneSaas.com

RecruitLoop: gives employers a smarter way to recruit by using a recorded video interview platform and online recruiters charging an hourly rate, saving 80 per cent cost compared to traditional recruitment agencies. www.recruitloop.com.au

Datalicious: the “Supertag” is a leading tag management platform enabling digital marketers and agencies to manage a wide range of analytics and optimisation technologies through an easy-to-use online interface. www.supertag.datalicious.com

Custell: Custell Cloud is a B2B Enterprise Relationship Management (ERM) product suite allowing organisations to maximise business relationships, access over 60 specialist functions, apply information, and use collaborative workspaces for sales teams. www.custell.com

Mercurien: a web scale transaction platform that combines GPS devices and cloud based data processing to enable driver coaching, usage based insurance, parking and other billing and administrative services. www.mercurien.com

cloud.IQ: Self-service solution that combines email, voice, mobile, web and social network functions into simple to use products allowing organisations to grow customer value and numbers. www.cloud-iq.com

Object Consulting: Object cxTravel is a mobile application that gives tourists an engaging, media-rich way to research tourist attractions. It shortlists data into a personalised, geo-tagged itinerary uploaded to a visitor’s mobile and offering convenient booking agency links and maps. www.objectconsulting.com.au

STMicroelectronics: ParraSync is an Australian-first project in Parramatta that involves participants using smartcards or near field communication-enabled mobile phones to access car parks, work buildings, libraries, purchase items from businesses, access loyalty programs and more. www.parraconnect.net.au

GoCatch®: the goCatch® taxi app solution connects taxi drivers directly with passengers using a mobile phone application. Since launching in 2011, goCatch® has over 5,000 registered taxis drivers and more than 50,000 passengers. www.gocatchapp.com.au

BigTinCan: develops custom applications for business and government customers globally to help market products and improve productivity. BTC has successfully delivered apps in more than 40 countries with over three million downloads to date. www.bigtincan.com

Deputy.com: Deputy unifies scheduling, tasking, attendance, business procedures and payroll integration into a single, easy to use system. www.deputy.com

DesignCrowd: Internet-based graphic design marketplace using crowdsourcing to provide access to over 50,000 designers from around the world. www.designcrowd.com

Self filing an international trade mark registration – How hard can it be?

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:47:00 GMT

If you are looking at exporting to a few countries you can certainly consider filing your trade mark application in countries of interest yourself, but you need to be mindful that doing it yourself increases the risk of making a mistake and either not achieving registration or gaining a weak or inappropriate registration.

To minimise the risk of making a significant or avoidable mistake, there are a few things you can do that won’t cost you any money.

You should firstly understand what you are getting yourself into. This means becoming familiar with the requirements, process and costs involved when seeking protection in your selected countries. The more familiar you are with the process in each country, the less likely your trade mark will fail a simple administrative test. By understanding the process you’ll also get an idea of when things like fees or other items are due.

When preparing your application it’s also helpful to understand one of the key tests used to assess a trade mark for acceptance. That is, will this trade mark cause confusion amongst consumers because it is too similar to another mark that has already been filed for similar goods and services.

The key message here is to search each country’s trade marks database. This search will indicate if there are any similar trade marks already registered which cover comparable products or services as yours. Such existing registrations may block the registration of your trade mark. If you think there are similar registrations but you really want to proceed with market entry using your existing mark, then you may need to consult a trade mark professional for advice on how best to proceed.

It’s also a good idea to check that other traders are not already using your trade mark, or something similar, as their own eg they’re using the mark but haven’t sought registration. Phone directories and internet search tools can help in identifying existing use by others.

Your actual application will contain three significant pieces of information: your particulars as the owner; the mark itself; and a specification of the goods and services for which the mark is intended to be used. If you get these things right, the application should encounter fewer issues.

Some countries (incl. Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the UK) are making it easier for businesses by offering a service that provides you with an assessment of your proposed trade mark before you file it. These services can be invaluable for their fast turn-around and relatively low cost. IP Australia’s TM Headstart service can help you assess the registrability of your proposed trade mark in Australia. For more information visit our TM Headstart page.

Many trade mark applications will progress without any obstacles, however should you face objections during examination or opposition to registration, you may want to involve an IP professional. They can provide valuable advice on whether they think the opposition has merit or if the objection can be overcome. Once again it comes down to how much you want that trade mark!

The final decision rests with you: if you think your future success in a particular country relies upon a strong and dependable trade mark, then you should probably use a trade mark attorney, but if your business will suffer from the financial implications of involving professional advisors then doing it yourself may be the better option.Visit IP Australia’s doing business overseas page for more information on protecting your trade mark in foreign markets.

Jessica Huntley, Marketing and Customer Engagement-IP Australia