Life in a global environment is not only about cultural challenges and curiosities but about looking to foreign places for new opportunities and markets. At the Trade Center we often get inquiries asking for tips on where to go internationally and what kind of product to sell. Normally we can help those clients who are either already specialized in a product or region with country or industry research respectively. Today I want to show an option of how to learn about international opportunities AND get a good first idea of a market.

We all know about the various challenges of operating businesses in different cultures. Especially East Asian worldviews and attitudes might be hard to grasp for Westerners.

In Germany, what do a friend, relative and dog have in common? And how are they different from a supermarket employee, your boss or your hair dresser? The answer is a simple one: the first group you can dutzen wheras the second group you'll have to siezen. According to the latest Economist, the rules of the game are changing with consequences reaching even into the plitical arena.

Which are the rising stars in a network of global cities? What can we learn from current highly influential cities like Paris, New York and Tokyo?