COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the South Carolina International Trade Coalition, will host the 2nd annual South Carolina Global Business Forum, to be held Tuesday, April 15, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

The Global Business Forum will feature discussions from experts on market focuses on Asia and the Americas, the impact of worldwide cultures on business, and the future economic forecast for South Carolina’s international business community.

The roster of the day’s speakers includes:

• The Honorable Peter Beattie, Former Australian Premier and Minister of Trade

• The Honorable Joe E. Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce

• The Honorable Mayor Bob Coble, City of Columbia

• Dr. Donald Schunk, Coastal Carolina University

Walter Bastian, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Western Hemisphere; and Eduardo Muñoz, Colombian Vice Minister for Foreign Trade will discuss current free trade agreements and the pending free trade agreement with Colombia.

“The weak dollar is making products and services from South Carolina more competitive in the global market,” says Amy Thomson, chairperson for the S.C. International Trade Coalition. “Now is the time to get into the global marketplace, and learning how these free trade agreements can help you get ahead is essential to success. This forum will enable companies to learn from business leaders who have blazed the trail in these markets.”

The Global Business Forum will also include a distinguished awards luncheon, honoring outstanding international trade achievements by South Carolina companies. Exhibit booths will be open throughout the day, featuring service providers available to assist with international sales development and implementation. A reception will conclude the day and allow attendees to network with speakers, presenters, and fellow business leaders from all over the world.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information on the event or to register, visit www.scchamber.net or call Andi Gougarty at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce at 803-799-4601. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqoZqL_6u2A for a short video on the Global Business Forum.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is the state’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees, with 90 percent of membership comprised of small businesses. As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is a catalyst for increasing per capita income and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.

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