DOING BUSINESS WITH DENVER

The State of Colorado is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the state population was 4,861,515 in 2007, a 13.03% increase since the U.S. Census 2000. Denver is the capital as well as the most populous city of Colorado.

Central Location

Located 346 miles west of the geographic center of the continental United States, Colorado is an excellent location for doing business with the entire nation. The state is located in the Mountain Time Zone, allowing communications with both coasts, and with Europe, South America, and the Far East in the same business day. Colorado also boasts 'one-bounce' satellite uplinks that provide real-time connections to six of seven continents in one business day.

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the total state product in 2006 was $230 billion ranking 8th among the country and above California. Per capita personal income was $41,798, putting Colorado seventh in the nation. The state's economy broadened from its mid-19th century roots in mining when irrigated agriculture developed, and by the late 19th century, raising livestock had become important. Early industry was based on the extraction and processing of minerals and agricultural products. Current agricultural products are cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn, and hay.

The federal government is also a major economic force in the state with many important federal facilities including NORAD, United States Air Force Academy and Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs; NOAA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder; U.S. Geological Survey and other government agencies at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood; the Denver Mint, Buckley Air Force Base, and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver; and a federal Supermax Prison and other federal prisons near Cañon City. In addition to these and other federal agencies, Colorado has abundant National Forest land and four National Parks that contribute to federal ownership of 24,615,788 acres (99,617 km²) of land in Colorado, or 37% of the total area of the state.[20] In the second half of the 20th century, the industrial and service sectors have expanded greatly. The state's economy is diversified and is notable for its concentration of scientific research and high-technology industries. Other industries include food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, minerals such as gold and molybdenum, and tourism. Colorado also produces the largest amount of beer of any state.[21] Denver is an important financial center.

Colorado has a flat 4.63% income tax, regardless of income level. Unlike most states, which calculate taxes based on federal adjusted gross income, Colorado taxes are based on taxable income - income after federal exemptions and federal itemized (or standard) deductions. Colorado's state sales tax is 2.9% on retail sales. When state revenues exceed state constitutional limits, full-year Colorado residents can claim a sales tax refund on their individual state income tax return. Many counties and cities charge their own rates in addition to the base state rate. There are also certain county and special district taxes that may apply.

Real estate and personal business property are taxable in Colorado. The state's senior property tax exemption was temporarily suspended by the Colorado Legislature in 2003. The tax break is scheduled to return for assessment year 2006, payable in 2007.

Demographics

Colorado has one of the highest proportions of Hispanic citizens of any U.S. state; only five states have a higher percentage. Denver and some other areas have significant Mexican populations, while southern Colorado has a large number of Hispanos, the descendants of early New Mexican settlers of colonial Spanish origin. The 2000 U.S. Census reports that 10.52% of people aged 5 and over in Colorado speak Spanish at home. Colorado, like New Mexico, is very rich in archaic Spanish idioms.

According to the 2000 Census, the largest ancestry groups in Colorado are German (22%), Irish (12.2%), and English (12%). Persons reporting German ancestry are the largest group in the state and are especially strong in the Front Range and eastern Plains. People of British extraction are the largest group in the western Rocky Mountains.

The state's most populous city, and capital, is Denver. The Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area, home to 2,927,911 people, contains more than two-thirds of the state's population. As of 2007, Colorado has an estimated population of 4,861,515, which is an increase of 13% since the year 2000.

The center of population of Colorado is located just north of the town of Critchell in Jefferson County Colorado has what your business needs to succeed and grow, like low business costs, extensive infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, and an exceptional quality of life.

Proven Performance

Colorado consistently ranks among the top states as a place to live and to succeed in business. Colorado received the highest grades for business vitality, financial resources, innovation assets, entrepreneurship and business competitiveness from the Corporation for Enterprise Development.

Business-Friendly Environment

Low taxes, a fair and accessible regulatory environment, and low business costs foster Colorado's favorable business climate. Colorado provides a competitive business tax structure that rewards investment and innovation, and property taxes are low.

A most livable State

A unique combination of spectacular scenery, recreational opportunities, moderate climate, excellent facilities for arts and culture, and world-class health care and public school systems make Colorado an ideal place to call home. A reasonable cost of living, low crime rates, and a wide selection of communities to suit every lifestyle contribute to what is widely recognized as an exceptional quality of life. Colorado is home to 40 state and four national parks and is a leader in recycling and renewable energy.

Sources:

http://www.colorado.gov

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html

http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/co.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado

Impuestos: http://www.revenue.state.co.us

Turismo: http://www.colorado.com/

Cámaras de Comercio: http://www.colorado.gov/colorado-government/chambers_commerceAD.html

Recommendations for preparing your supply chain for the U.S. government's latest import security initiative

By Susan Pomerantz

New York — March 21, 2008 — U.S. importers are talking about "10+2". No, it's not 12. It's another security initiative launched by the U.S. government to mitigate the risk of terrorism occurring on U.S. soil.

Joining the ranks of other alphabet soup security programs, "10+2" is a tactical program requiring 10 data elements from the importer and 2 data elements from the carrier (hence "10+2") be electronically filed 24 hours prior to loading cargo onto a shipping vessel ultimately bound for the United States.

The overarching goal of the program is to target high-risk cargo by identifying actual cargo movements, improve the accuracy of cargo descriptions and flag low-risk cargo earlier in the supply chain, thereby speeding its movement.

The "10+2" program is ruffling the feathers of the global trade community. It's estimated that this program will cost importers $390 million to $690 million annually due to filing fees instituted by the government and surcharges levied by cargo agents for generating the required information. In addition, importers may have problems gathering the information in advance, thereby causing global cargo departure delays and disrupting timely shipments around the world.

Background

In response to the terrorist events of 2001, the U.S. government enacted the 2006 SAFE Port Act (Security and Accountability for Every Port Act) which aims to increase the security of U.S. ports of entry. A key component of SAFE is the Secure Freight Initiative, which is a comprehensive model for global supply chain security and which complements the use of scanning technology and optical character recognition systems in foreign ports to inspect cargo bound for the United States.

The Secure Freight Initiative is designed to help reduce the risk of terrorism by leveraging trade data, trade partnerships, host country governments and the latest technology to validate the security of goods in maritime shipping containers. Via a more detailed Security Filing, or what is being called "10+2", U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aims to:

• target high-risk cargo through the identification of actual cargo movements;
• improve the accuracy of cargo descriptions; and,
• speed lawful international trade by recognizing low-risk shipments much earlier in the supply chain.

Currently, CBP relies primarily on carrier manifest information to perform advance targeting prior to vessel loading. The Security Filing component of the Secure Freight Initiative will involve the electronic filing of additional data elements by both importers and carriers for shipments loaded on a vessel bound for a U.S. port. When fully implemented, the importer will be required to submit 10 data elements through an Import Security Filing 24 hours prior to loading shipments on board the vessel. These elements are:

1. Manufacturer or supplier name and address
2. Seller name and address
3. Buyer name and address
4. Ship to name and address (place where the seal is broken and container is unloaded)
5. Container stuffing locations (name and address of the physical location where the goods were stuffed into the container)
6. Consolidator (stuffer) name and address
7. Importer of record number or Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) applicant identification number
8. Consignee number
9. Country of origin
10. Commodity HTSUS number at the 6 to 10 digit level

The importer's carrier also will be required to provide 2 additional data elements:

1. Vessel stowage plans.
2. Container status messages detailing container movement and status changes (e.g., empty or full).

In addition, there are some special rules for reporting these data elements that must be followed by both the importer and carrier:

• Master Bill of Lading (BOM) must be reported in addition to the above 12 items;
• Data elements must be reported by the tariff number at the lowest bill of lading level;
• Manufacturer (or supplier) name and address, country of origin and commodity HTSUS (harmonized tariff) number must be linked to one another at the line item level.
  

Details on the format for reporting this information are still pending, but importers should expect implementation of these requirements to roll in phases over the next 12 months.

Impact to the U.S. Importer

Most of the 10 data elements required to be reported prior to shipment are already being provided to Customs for clearance and entry into the United States via the CBP Form 7501. As it has traditionally been the importer's responsibility to ensure the accuracy of these elements, there has been little effort to coordinate this detail between an importer's suppliers, forwarders and carriers.

The potential impact or change to an importer's international supply chain will be:

• Anticipated transactional costs — CBP estimates incremental supply chain costs of $24-$38 per import transaction and that filing costs will average $10-$50 per transaction.
• Potential liquidated damages — Importers could be charged fines equal to the value of the shipment if they fail to file. Importers also face potential charges of $5,000 per transaction for inaccurate or missing data.
• Supply chain delays — Anticipate an increased volume of airfreight due to delays in shipment of containerized cargo and failure to meet customer delivery dates due to delays in shipment.
• Need for improved collaboration with suppliers — Suppliers, freight forwarders and carriers will need to develop, document and implement better procedures to handle the additional filing requirements. Importers now will be required to manage supplier exports for compliance to ensure the accuracy of the data being filed and transmitted via the Import Security Filing. Shipment pre-alerts or pre-advice will no longer be optional. Bill of Lading detail must be obtained by the importer or its agent prior to container arrival at the foreign port.
• More stringent product classification — Identify and implement a procedure for advance determination of the commodity's HTSUS classification. The main objective should be consistency down to the six-digit level for export formalities, various filings for entry including "10+2", Automated Manifest System (AMS), free trade agreements, OGA (other government agencies) and Advanced Trade Data Initiative (ATDI). More stringent product classification will force a change in process for many importers as they will no longer be able to declare a single HTSUS at origin and no longer be able to group parts under an "other, other" classification.
• Adjustment to internal systems — Implement or improve upon procedures for complete and accurate country of origin determination with an emphasis on proper reporting of origin of manufacture. This may require revisions to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that default on purchase orders and shipping documents for "place of shipment" as origin.
• Additional reporting requirements — Document and implement a procedure to accommodate additional reporting requirements associated with Carnet shipments and shipments purchased under the INCOTERM DDP, or Deliver Duty Paid. These transactions did not previously require an electronic submission of data or classification of a product by the importer.
• Potential revisions to customs bond — Revisions to an Importer's Customs Bond may result from failure to timely or accurately file the "10+2" information and pay liquidated damages.

Recommendations

The "10+2" program will have cascading impacts to global trade. U.S. Importers and any organization exporting to the United States should heed the following advice:

• Analyze your current processes and procedures to ensure that you are prepared to handle the additional filing requirements of "10+2".
• Focus on how "10+2" affects your supply chain in terms of costs and sourcing. Do changes need to be made to your current supply chain practices? Will new sourcing strategies need to be implemented? Will contracts or service level agreements need to be revised with your forwarders, brokers or carriers?
• If the filing requirements of "10+2" seem too cumbersome to manage, consider outsourcing to a trade expert.

More information at:
www.jpmorgan.com/trade

http://www.sdcexec.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=15&id=10320&pageNum=1

DOING BUSINESS WITH NEW YORK

New York State is the Pro-Business, Pro-Growth State

With the world’s sixteenth largest economy, New York State is headquarters for scores of companies and a place where businesses of all sizes can tap a diversely talented and experienced workforce along with other resources available in many communities.
New York State’s pro-business environment and highly competitive economic incentives make it the ideal location for your business.

In New York, you will find a wealth of opportunity and an ideal business climate in which companies of all types, including new and emerging businesses, can thrive.
As of 2006, New York was the third largest state in population after California and Texas, with an estimated population of 19,306,183. New York City has 8,143,197, more than 40% of the state’s population.

ECONOMY

New York's gross state product in 2006 was $1.02 trillion, ranking third in size behind the larger states of California and Texas. If New York were an independent nation, it would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world behind South Korea. New York has the forth highest per capita real GDP of $ 46,617. This is 24 percent above the national average.

New York State has several Industry Clusters. The most relevant for our exports are:
-Computer Hardware & Electronics
-Bio Medical
-Business Services
-Communication & Media Services
-Fashion & Apparel
-Software Industries
-Food Processing
-Distribution
The heart of the fashion industry is unquestionably in New York. The world’s most recognizable brands originate from New York based headquarter offices and design studios. New York is also a major producer of apparel products. New York has unique access to competitive production facilities, specialized NYC niche manufacturers, innovative young designers and the world’s foremost retail market. Over 8,000 apparel & fashion companies employ over 98,000 people in New York State incluiding: Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Liz Claiborne, Ann Taylor, Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger. New York is also home to many of the most respected foreign apparel firms’ US operations including: Prada, LVMH, Chanel and Christian Dior-
Agribusiness is New York's second largest industry. The State boasts The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva. Its goal is to improve the competitiveness and profitability of growers and processors of fruit and vegetable crops while safeguarding the environment and ensuring consumers access to wholesome, high quality and economical foods produced in New York. Together with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University, they function as one unit to facilitate a strong research program.
New York State's unparalleled market proximity and host of resources and incentives specifically designed for distribution centers gives New York-based businesses a distinct edge over the competition, making New York the premier location to build and locate your distribution center. New York State is therefore home to major distribution centers, such as: Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Papa John's Pizza. The state's distribution-friendly infrastructure offers a host of pro-business resources and incentives to keep costs down and boost profits:
-Strategic location and market proximity.
-Easy access to east coast markets.
-Excellent highways and transportation services.
-Suitable sites and buildings at a competitive price.
-Numerous prime, pre-approved, permitted, ready-to-occupy distribution center sites
-Availability of skilled workers.
-Workforce training and development.
-NO inventory tax.
-NO taxes for third party distribution centers.

New York's aggressive Build Now-NY program offers pre-approved sites that will be fast-tracked for development. We can get your new distribution center built on time, which means you can start saving transportation dollars sooner while reaching profit-rich markets faster.

Empire Zones Program: New York's Empire Zones offer a host of financial. incentives and significant tax credits and benefits for businesses located in one of the State's 72 Empire Zones. Your business could qualify to become tax-free if it locates or expands in one of these zones.

New York State leads the Northeast Region as the largest and most diverse population center. A superior transportation infrastructure, with highway access to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Canada, includes 1,500 interstate highway miles; 112,000 roadway miles; 150 cities served by non-stop flights worldwide from New York City; 500 airports located throughout the state; and a 4,000 mile rail network.

Food processors can expedite the delivery of non-perishable products throughout the Northeast and ship large/bulky items packaged or bottled from here at a cost savings compared to more distant locations.

We invite you to explore the many opportunities that New York has to offer your company.

For more information please visit:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/corp/corpwww.html
http://www.empire.state.ny.us/default.asp
http://www.nycedc.com/Web/NYCBusinessClimate/NYCBusinessClimate.htm
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/IncDistJune00.pdf
http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/smallbiz/sbrc/Pages/index.cfm http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/starting/importing.shtml

DOING BUSINESS WITH PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania's businesses find success here -- and the statistics prove it. The Keystone State has amazing market access along with a first-class transportation system. As a technology leader, Pennsylvania’s workforce is highly skilled, with access to some of the best colleges and universities in the world. Considering all these factors, it's no wonder that companies like Merck, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Olympus America and Comcast Corporation have decided to locate or expand in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's strategic location in the northeastern United States has made it a hub of major investments by international companies establishing locations overseas. Our extensive rail and road systems, three major ports and six international airports make moving your goods to domestic and international markets a smooth and streamlined process.

According to the World Bank, Pennsylvania is the 17th largest economy in the world with $450 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Great companies are built in Pennsylvania. The governor has cut business taxes by $1 billion since 2003 and was recognized by the Tax Foundation and Council on State Taxes for his business-friendly tax code. Pennsylvania was also ranked as one of the lowest states for business taxes.

Facts

Within this radius lies access to vital markets that encompass:

• 40% of the U.S. population and purchasing power.
• More than 60% of Canada's population.
• 45% of U.S. manufacturers.
• 41% of the nation's domestic trade and service industries.
  Pennsylvania's work force numbers 6,299,000, and 82% have earned at least a high school degree.
• Pennsylvania ranks 3rd in the northeastern U.S. (after New York and New Jersey) and 9th out of the 50 U.S. states in total number of foreign-owned firms.
• Key Industries: biosciences, technology, advanced manufacturing, and business services - just a few of the diverse industries thriving within the borders of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is a stable, prosperous market that has the wherewithal to support new development and innovative business ideas. The Commonwealth is split between male and female residents, and nearly 10% of households routinely speak a language other than English. Some other interesting facts:

• Population: more than 12 million people.
• The median household income is more than $40,000 a year.
• 71% own their own homes.
• 632,469 people own their own businesses in Pennsylvania.
• 226,814 (26.4%) are women-owned businesses.
• The largest ethnic groups are: White (85%), African American (10%), Hispanic (3%) and Asian (2%).
• 25% of the Commonwealth’s population is of German ancestry; 16% is Irish, and 11% is Italian.
  

Transportation: Pennsylvania offers every means to move your products, via ground, air and water.
Ground: 120,000-mile highway system and 69 railroads with more than 5,100 miles of railways (ranks 5th in the U.S. according to the Association of American Railroads)
Air: 134 public-use airports (6 international) and almost 800 airports and landing facilities
Water: access to the World via the Port of Philadelphia and access to Canada and the Great Lakes via the Port of Erie.

The Port of Pittsburgh is the 2nd largest inland port in the U.S., with access to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, as well as the Pacific through the Panama Canal.

In order to register a business, you will need to file with the Corporation Bureau. Under Pennsylvania law, every proceeding for the organization of corporations, both for-profit and nonprofit, and every ancillary transaction relating to such corporations is required to be filed with the department's Corporation Bureau.

So, take a look at this great State and start doing business with Pennsylvania!

Sources:
Corporation Bureau of Pennsylvania’s Department of State:
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/site/default.asp
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
http://www.newpa.com
Read about some success stories at http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=7
For tourism information go to: http://www.visitpa.com
For more information on how to do business in Pennsylvania please got to: http://www.paopenforbusiness.state.pa.us/paofb/site/default.asp

Programa de Consultorías Gratuitas - PROCON

Como parte de las estrategias de AmCham para este año 2008, el Trade Center lanza el Programa de Consultoría Gratuita – PROCON en el mes de febrero con gran demanda.

Desde el mes de febrero, este programa ha transcendido nuestras fronteras a través de diversos medios de comunicación regionales, lo cual nos llena de entusiasmo para continuar atendiendo la gran cantidad de solicitudes que se reciben semanalmente.

A la fecha se han recibido más de 50 solicitudes de PYMES interesadas en recibir la asesoría gratuita personalizada y profesional que facilitan los socios de AmCham participantes de PROCON.

El giro de negocio de estas empresas es amplio, pero destacan los siguientes: productores agrícolas, comerciantes diversos, bienes raíces, contabilidad y auditoría, organización de eventos, software, y salud.

Entre las ramas más demandadas destacan: mercadeo y publicidad, desarrollo empresarial, análisis financiero y gestión de crédito.

Las áreas que cubren nuestros socios consultores son: desarrollo empresarial, RRHH, relaciones públicas, contabilidad y auditoría, mercadeo, finanzas, bienes raíces, y logística, entre otros.

Únicamente los socios de AmCham pueden ser consultores de PROCON, ya que el objetivo del programa es facilitar asesoría a PYMES de manera responsable y confiable, lo cual solamente podemos garantizar en el caso de nuestros socios. Asimismo, a través de PROCON fomentamos la práctica de la responsabilidad social empresarial entre nuestros miembros.

Si usted es socio de AmCham y desea ser parte de PROCON simplemente contáctenos y gustosamente le enviaremos la información.

¿QUIÉNES SOMOS?

La Cámara de Comercio Guatemalteco Americana - AmCham, es una asociación apolítica, privada, no lucrativa, integrada por personas de negocios interesadas en servir a la comunidad, y en la inversión y el comercio de los Estados Unidos y Guatemala. AmCham opera en unión con las empresas y el gobierno a través de un amplio espectro de actividades.

• El Trade Center de AmCham es el departamento especializado en comercio exterior.
  Nuestro objetivo es ser facilitadores de oportunidades de negocio entre los Estados Unidos y Guatemala.
• Somos además un centro de información comercial proactivo y dinámico que puede ayudarle a encontrar nuevos socios comerciales.
• Nos especializamos en temas relacionados con comercio con los Estados Unidos con énfasis en el DR-CAFTA en Guatemala.
  Facilitamos información comercial a nuestros socios y no socios a través de nuestro catálogo de servicios.
• Ofrecemos capacitación a empresarios a través de conferencias y asesoría personalizada.