Day 22 of Mentor on Road,USA

“Do not figure out big plans at first, but, begin slowly, feel your ground and proceed up and up.”
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 22 of Mentor on Road, USA, started with a thought provoking interaction with women owned businesses at New Orleans Business Alliance followed by one to one meetings. They were proud to note that India, which is one of the largest democracies in the world, is moving in the right direction.

A public-private partnership, New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) is the official economic development agency for the City of New Orleans. Now an accredited economic development organization (AEDO), NOLABA was formed in 2010 at the behest of Mayor Mitch Landrieu and a coalition of business and civic leaders to employ the best practices in economic development to reposition New Orleans as the ideal intersection of commerce and culture.

NOLABA, a non-profit organization, is led by a 17-member board of directors, composed of a cross section of New Orleans leaders, including the Mayor and representatives of the city’s diverse industries. As the city’s official economic development partnership and the hub of its business community, NOLABA helps inform, educate and prepare companies to capitalize on the many opportunities New Orleans has to offer.

The vision of NOLABA is to reposition New Orleans as the next great American city for business investment, quality of life and economic opportunity.

NOLABA is focused on six key industry clusters:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Bio-innovation and Health Services
• Creative Digital Media
• Sustainable Industries
• Transport, Trade and Logistics
• Retail

The second interaction was held with the American businesses at World Trade Centre, organised jointly with US Commercial Service (USCS) and Small Business Administration (SBA). It was a highly interactive session and we completely enjoyed it. Interesting questions were raised on several different sectors. Mentor on Road would soon be working with them and connecting them to Indian businesses.

The World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTCNO) is a non-profit organization of more than 1,000 corporate and individual members which was started in 1943 as International House and in 1945 as International Trade Mart, its two predecessor organizations, which merged in 1985. Dating back to its origins more than 50 years ago, WTCNO was the first of what are today over 300 World Trade Center organizations in nearly 100 countries which are members of the World Trade Centers Association. The Association itself was founded in New Orleans in 1968.

The mission of the World Trade Center, New Orleans, is to facilitate the addition of wealth and jobs in Louisiana through international trade, economic development and allied activities by supporting a prosperous international business climate in Louisiana with advocacy, information, education and stakeholder programs and services, resulting in the retention, recruitment and expansion of Louisiana-based international businesses.

Additionally, numerous dignitaries from throughout the world have visited WTCNO as honorees or program speakers, as well as incoming delegations visiting Louisiana on trade missions or individually from around the globe.

Our third event was with the American start-up companies hosted by Lauchpad-USA. Mentor on Road, USA met 5 start-ups and understood their businesses. We would soon be working with them and connecting them to India.

Launchpad USA is a program of Amcham Finland, an independent, non-governmental and member-funded non-profit Finnish Association. Launchpad USA is one-stop-shop for entering the U.S. market smartly, efficiently, and successfully. It is the company’s guide, from start to finish, for doing business in the United States.

The services that Launchpad USA provides are:

• Provides first-hand expertise and experience to the new companies that are entering in the U.S. as well as to the existing companies in the U.S. to help them steer clear of pitfalls
• Introduces the new companies entering in the U.S. to the right business contacts who know about doing business in the U.S.
• Provides practical tools for realistic planning and estimates to the new companies / start-ups

Looking forward to a productive day tomorrow.

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)