WTC Utah hed talks global biz to Chamber
By RYANN RASMUSSEN
rrasmussen@thespectrum.com

CEDAR CITY - With a trade trip to China just around the corner, members of the Cedar City Area Chamber of Commerce took time on Thursday during a monthly luncheon to talk about doing business internationally.

With the threat of foreign competition creeping closer to home, the message was clear: Compete internationally or watch your business suffer.

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"There are two kinds of CEOs in the world," said Lew Cramer, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah in Salt Lake City and Thursday's guest speaker, "one is internationally minded and the other is unemployed."
Added Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Brown, "Cedar City isn't sheltered anymore. We're getting closer and closer together all the time."

Specifically, Cramer said, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a former ambassador and world-traveler himself, has identified China, India, Mexico and Canada as prime targets for Utah businesses.

Cramer urged the members in attendance to consider international trade now while Utah's economy is "red hot" and state unemployment is low.

Some businesses, however, may believe they're simply too small or too underfunded to get in the global game, but that's where the WTCU can help, Cramer said.

"A World Trade Center is intended to be a one-stop shop," Cramer said. "Our job is to put more money in your pocket through international business. We are to motivate, educate and facilitate international trade."

Speaking of education, Cramer, who was appointed to his position by Utah's governor, also encouraged local business owners to explore new languages. He said the WTCU, a nonprofit organization focused on public service, is currently trying to coordinate with higher education institutions in Utah to offer foreign language courses for business owners.

Huntsman, Cramer added, stresses Arabic and Chinese as well as Spanish and other European languages.

"It's clear that our governor sees the need for more thorough language and cultural education as we move forward," he said.

Thursday's topic of conversation rang clear for Cedar City Mayor Gerald R. Sherratt.

In Cedar City, the business of international trade may soon become a huge factor when an iron mine west of town, which has been dormant for nearly 30 years, reopens. Thanks to Iron Bull Mining and Milling, this will become a reality.

When that happens, Sherratt said Cedar City could become one of the biggest exporters to China in the state. The Chinese, he added, have already expressed great interest in the product that will come from the mine.

"It's a major undertaking and I think because of that there will be many Chinese representatives coming in and out of Cedar City," Sherratt said.

Overall, though, the mayor said international trade should be on the minds of all business owners in Utah's Festival City.

"I think there's a great opportunity for us if we're smart enough to make the connection," he said.

For businesses in Utah that are interested in trading internationally, the WTCU offers a variety of services that may help them get started. Granted, Cramer said not all products are entirely suited for trade overseas, but the WTCU can help determine which ones are.

For more information, contact the WTCU by calling (801) 532-8080 or visit www.wtcut.com on the Internet