Trending topics:
Abdel Azzouzi, CITP|FIBP, is a Manager of Trade Finance with Desjardins, specializing in structured and export finance. Since first discovering FITT a decade ago, he’s used his training to take his career in new directions and build an impressive array of international trade expertise.
Corruption is a virus. Companies are like living organisms that can be infected by the virus of corruption. Similar to a viral contagion, corruption will spread throughout an organization if not treated intensively at the onset of symptoms with an antibiotic called “zero tolerance”.
Looking back, my interest in international trade began when I first crossed the U.S./Canada border as a six year old in the back seat of our bright red Chevy. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion for international travel that led to my successful career in international law.
After many years of practicing law in Canada, Bill Kosar decided to take his career in a more global direction, and has since pursued several opportunities to serve as a legal and international trade advisor to national governments, providing training to lawyers and government officials in international business law and promoting global trade.
While we have placed international trade in a position of national importance, making every effort to expand and grow our trading relationships globally, our domestic trade remains limited, blocked by interprovincial barriers that cost our industries billions of dollars through their inefficiencies.
I was debarred from being a U.S. government contractor, and based on my conduct and offense, it was an appropriate and fair decision. The process by which I was suspended and ultimately debarred was also fair and appropriate. While the debarment tactic is rarely enforced, Canada’s leading the way to compliance by offering rehabilitation.
While the traditional bottom line will always remain a crucial part of business, some companies are expanding their view and building their business to focus on the Triple bottom line (3BL/TPL): Profit, People and Planet.
For all the talk about Canada being a trading nation, we aren’t when it comes to small and medium sized enterprises. While SME’s account for roughly 95 percent of all companies in Canada, and create 65 percent of all jobs, Canadian SME export rates are at less than 2 percent.
Damien Violante is a Product Purchaser and Team Leader with over 10 years of experience in the industrial field.
Over the duration of his career, he has worked in all areas of supply chain management in an industrial setting, developing expertise in sourcing, purchasing, supplier relationship management and negotiation in North America and Europe.
There is no doubt that the continent of Africa is a land rich in opportunities for international businesses. With an abundance of natural resources, some of the world’s fastest growing economies, and booming demand for technological growth, it’s not hard to see why businesses look to succeed in Africa.
X
