Imagine a life of adventure, travel and million-dollar deals. It may sound
too good to be true, but for many trade specialists, it's just a part
of the job.
Sanjeev Chowdury works as a trade specialist. "We're acting as liaisons
between overseas markets and...business back home."
Lisa Kjaers works for the American International Trade Administration.
She helps businesses make the most of emerging world markets -- yet another
stage in trade negotiation. Once a trade agreement has been reached, some
businesses need help getting their foot in the door.
"It's really fun to help the companies, to alert them to the wonderful
products we offer," Kjaers says. "Lots of times we're coming in like
Santa Claus at Christmas time with packages of goodies they can use overseas
-- goodies like grants, loans, market information and international business
plans."
There are many success stories. "We were working with an environmental
company," Kjaers explains. "A trade specialist would call up and say we have
a grant to help you market your product in Asia. We got them a grant, and
helped them draw up an international business plan. They made $2 million in
sales their first time out."
Some exciting things are happening in the trade field at the moment. "We're
working toward one trading block," Chowdury says. Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
are now part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada has a trade
deal with Chile. There's talk of a Free Trade Area of the Americas stretching
from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Chowdury says his involvement in the trade
industry is a dream come true. "I always wanted to represent my country,"
he says.
Chowdury has a bachelor's degree in commerce and a master's degree
in international business. After graduation, he worked for a bank, then as
an executive assistant for an economic development organization.
Kjaers says it's always fun to rub shoulders with VIPs. "It's
a little bit of glamour," she confesses. "You might have the secretary of
commerce or the president coming to town." Kjaers first set her eyes on international
trade while she was in college.
"I had this very wise professor who made us write five- to 10-year plans,"
she remembers. "I realized I wanted to work in the private sector, government
and as a contractor one day. I know now that's a little bit risky." Kjaers
has put plans of contract work on the back burner, but she has met her other
goals.
As a sophomore, Kjaers went to Italy to work for the summer. "One of the
things I realized was that I was learning much more from the environment than
in the classroom," she says. Kjaers points to the Italian custom of closing
shop between noon and 2 p.m. every day -- something she wouldn't have
learned without the benefit of hands-on experience.