Remember my piece "US should join in Nano car effort" urging Rochester area manufacturers to join the cheap car revolution by establishing themselves as vendors/suppliers/consultants for the companies that are making these cars in other parts of the world.
Seems like a company in Ontario, Canada has decided to follow that path : "Canadian components for Nano".
"Waiting for the world to come to us was not an option. We wanted to diversify and expand our markets so we had to go out to the world," said the CEO of that company.
Exactly the spirit we need to see from Rochester Area Businesses........
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Exports show region's resiliency
An article based on my recent blog article was published in the Rochester D&C on Feb 18 :
Exports show region's resiliency
Deepak SethEditorial Board community member
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(February 18, 2008) —
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Commerce Department introduced a new data series that precisely measures manufacturing export values for metropolitan areas. In 2006, the Rochester metropolitan area recorded export sales of $4.6 billion.
Rochester was the leader in upstate New York, ahead of Buffalo-Niagara Falls ($4.2 billion), Albany-Schenectady-Troy ($3.4 billion), Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown ($2 billion) and Syracuse ($2 billion). In fact, Rochester was the No. 1 metro area in the entire state, excluding the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region. A remarkable achievement indeed. More remarkable is the fact that this has been achieved at a time when the area is seeing a steady decline in manufacturing potential.
Canada is Rochester's single biggest manufactured exports trading partner, followed by Mexico, China and Germany. Our area's biggest exports were chemicals, computers and electronic products, machinery and plastics and rubber products.
These statistics reveal certain important points:
The spirit of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking that drove Rochester in the past can continue to do so in the future. Local business and political leadership have a very important role to play by adequately harnessing and directing federal, state and local resources.
Community members serve on the Editorial Board and write regular columns.
Exports show region's resiliency
Deepak SethEditorial Board community member
Post Comment
(February 18, 2008) —
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Commerce Department introduced a new data series that precisely measures manufacturing export values for metropolitan areas. In 2006, the Rochester metropolitan area recorded export sales of $4.6 billion.
Rochester was the leader in upstate New York, ahead of Buffalo-Niagara Falls ($4.2 billion), Albany-Schenectady-Troy ($3.4 billion), Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown ($2 billion) and Syracuse ($2 billion). In fact, Rochester was the No. 1 metro area in the entire state, excluding the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region. A remarkable achievement indeed. More remarkable is the fact that this has been achieved at a time when the area is seeing a steady decline in manufacturing potential.
Canada is Rochester's single biggest manufactured exports trading partner, followed by Mexico, China and Germany. Our area's biggest exports were chemicals, computers and electronic products, machinery and plastics and rubber products.
These statistics reveal certain important points:
- Rochester-area delegations to Albany and Washington should take note of these facts and ensure that they are factored in while deciding the allocation of governmental developmental dollars to the Rochester area. We always seem to be fighting a losing battle with Buffalo.
- Export-based industries not only create jobs but also help in reducing the national debt. Special incentives should be formulated to attract and grow such businesses.
- One will have to wait and see the economic implications of the changed travel requirements with Canada. Delays or unease in traveling between the two countries may manifest itself in reduced trade. This is one area where federal policy will very directly affect Rochester residents.
- Mexico is also a major export destination. Opportunities exist to leverage our area's Hispanic heritage and enhance the bilingual potential.
- The exports destination basket is spread very thin. Area businesses should be striving for establishing toeholds in other emerging economies: India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Middle East, etc. Exports to China also do not seem to reflect the potential that exists there.
The spirit of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking that drove Rochester in the past can continue to do so in the future. Local business and political leadership have a very important role to play by adequately harnessing and directing federal, state and local resources.
Community members serve on the Editorial Board and write regular columns.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Bowl XLII - "Indian" themed ads
Did you guys watch the Super Bowl ? I bet almost all would have. Pretty exciting game and a nailbiting finish
Did you catch all the ads ? Seems like the Indian community has finally "arrived". The rite of passage being becoming the focus of racially stereotypical jokes. The Italian, Irish, Latinos , Chinese have all been through it and now it's our turn. Some would say being noticed in a funny manner is better than not being noticed at all.
1) Salesgenie.com did it twice. One ad, "Sales Hero," featured an Asian Indian salesman ("Ramesh Chakrapani") with a stereotypical accent being threatened by his white boss, a short, white man with a mustache, to boost his sales or else. After the Asian Indian employee checks out Salesgenie.com, he wins an award for best salesman of the year and accepts it on a stage standing next to his wife and seven children. The other commercial, "Panda," featured a panda-bear couple speaking with strong Asian accents, worried that their business, Ling Ling's Bamboo Furniture Shack, might go under. They call a panda psychic who refers them to Salesgenie.com. Both ads, produced in house, were found offensive by more than half a dozen ad execs, reports The Wall Street Journal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJyQcDUIDYo
2) Bud Light relegated most of its ad time to horses, Dalmatians, beer and Will Farrell, but one spot, "Language of Love," produced by the LatinWorks agency, offended some people. This commercial featured a group of men of multiple races/ethnicities trying to court women at a bar. A macho-looking Latino man was trying to get them to stop talking with their stereotypical accents--teaching an Asian man how to say hi, for example--and then trying to seduce a woman with his accent sounding like Antonio Banderas, but she's already taken by a short, Asian Indian man who says "Bud Light" in a thick Asian Indian accent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0x4zsb724
These descriptions are from DiversityInc.com
Did you catch all the ads ? Seems like the Indian community has finally "arrived". The rite of passage being becoming the focus of racially stereotypical jokes. The Italian, Irish, Latinos , Chinese have all been through it and now it's our turn. Some would say being noticed in a funny manner is better than not being noticed at all.
1) Salesgenie.com did it twice. One ad, "Sales Hero," featured an Asian Indian salesman ("Ramesh Chakrapani") with a stereotypical accent being threatened by his white boss, a short, white man with a mustache, to boost his sales or else. After the Asian Indian employee checks out Salesgenie.com, he wins an award for best salesman of the year and accepts it on a stage standing next to his wife and seven children. The other commercial, "Panda," featured a panda-bear couple speaking with strong Asian accents, worried that their business, Ling Ling's Bamboo Furniture Shack, might go under. They call a panda psychic who refers them to Salesgenie.com. Both ads, produced in house, were found offensive by more than half a dozen ad execs, reports The Wall Street Journal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJyQcDUIDYo
2) Bud Light relegated most of its ad time to horses, Dalmatians, beer and Will Farrell, but one spot, "Language of Love," produced by the LatinWorks agency, offended some people. This commercial featured a group of men of multiple races/ethnicities trying to court women at a bar. A macho-looking Latino man was trying to get them to stop talking with their stereotypical accents--teaching an Asian man how to say hi, for example--and then trying to seduce a woman with his accent sounding like Antonio Banderas, but she's already taken by a short, Asian Indian man who says "Bud Light" in a thick Asian Indian accent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0x4zsb724
These descriptions are from DiversityInc.com
The ads are funny but seem to be creating/reinforcing some weird stereotypes :
- South Asians are communication challenged , have thick accents and have very large families.
- South Asians are socially challenged
And such stereotypes are always dangerous……...
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rochester : Export Engine for Upstate Economic Growth
On Jan 24, the U.S. Commerce Department introduced a new data series that precisely measures manufacturing export values for metropolitan areas. Service export values are not included in this series. As per this report, in 2006, the Rochester metropolitan areas recorded export sales of $ USD 4.6 billion. Overall U.S. exporters reported a record $1.4 trillion in goods and services in 2006. Final 2007 numbers are forecast to exceed 2006 totals.
Rochester with it’s USD 4.6 billion was the leader in Upstate New York , ahead of Buffalo-Niagara Falls (USD 4.2 billion), Albany-Schenectady-Troy (USD 3.4 billion), Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown (USD 2 billion) and Syracuse (USD 2 billion). In fact, Rochester was the number one Metro area in the entire state excluding the Tristate New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA area (USD 66 billion). A remarkable achievement indeed. More remarkable is the fact that this has been achieved at a time when the area is seeing a steady decline in the manufacturing potential of it’s erstwhile stalwarts like Kodak and Xerox. This speaks highly of the mid-size Rochester companies which have picked up the slack.
Canada is Rochester’s single biggest manufactured exports trading partner (USD 1.2 billion) followed by Mexico (USD 703 million), China (USD 270 million) and Germany (USD 249 million). Our area’s biggest exports were Chemicals ( USD 1.7 billion), Computers and Electronic products (USD 1 billion), Machinery (USD 663 million) and Plastics and Rubber products (USD 197 million)
These statistics throw up certain important points:
· Rochester area’s delegations to Albany and Washington should take note of these facts and ensure that they are factored in while deciding the allocation of governmental developmental dollars to the Rochester area. We always seem to be fighting a losing battle with Buffalo.
· Exports based industries not only create jobs but also help in reducing the national debt. Special incentives should be formulated to attract and grow such businesses in the Rochester area.
· One will have to wait and see the economic implications of the changed travel requirements with Canada. Delays or unease in traveling between the two countries may manifest itself in reduced trade. The local governments need to be on their toes in making these new changes as smooth and painless as possible. This is one area where federal policy will very directly affect Rochester residents.
· Mexico is also a major export destination. Opportunities exist to leverage our area’s Hispanic heritage and enhance the bilingual potential.
· The exports destination basket is spread very thin. Area businesses should be striving for establishing toeholds in other emerging economies : India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Middle East etc. Exports to China also do not seem to reflect the potential which exists there. Business associations like the Rochester Business Association should help their members in making breakthroughs in the non-traditional export markets. Trade delegations, increased web presence, participation in trade shows etc should help.
· The high proportion of Chemicals/Plastics and Rubber etc. in the mix appears slightly troubling as these are often considered sunset industries in the US, likely to be impacted the most by tougher environmental standards. For all the other Metro areas in the same export size range – Computers and Electronic products were the number one export product. For Buffalo , Transportation equipment was the number one.
Overall, these numbers speak well for the resilience of the Rochester economy and the adaptability of the local businesses to the changing economic environment. The spirit of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking which drove Rochester in the past can continue to do so in the future. Local business and political leadership has a very important role to play by adequately harnessing and directing federal , state and local resources.
Rochester with it’s USD 4.6 billion was the leader in Upstate New York , ahead of Buffalo-Niagara Falls (USD 4.2 billion), Albany-Schenectady-Troy (USD 3.4 billion), Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown (USD 2 billion) and Syracuse (USD 2 billion). In fact, Rochester was the number one Metro area in the entire state excluding the Tristate New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA area (USD 66 billion). A remarkable achievement indeed. More remarkable is the fact that this has been achieved at a time when the area is seeing a steady decline in the manufacturing potential of it’s erstwhile stalwarts like Kodak and Xerox. This speaks highly of the mid-size Rochester companies which have picked up the slack.
Canada is Rochester’s single biggest manufactured exports trading partner (USD 1.2 billion) followed by Mexico (USD 703 million), China (USD 270 million) and Germany (USD 249 million). Our area’s biggest exports were Chemicals ( USD 1.7 billion), Computers and Electronic products (USD 1 billion), Machinery (USD 663 million) and Plastics and Rubber products (USD 197 million)
These statistics throw up certain important points:
· Rochester area’s delegations to Albany and Washington should take note of these facts and ensure that they are factored in while deciding the allocation of governmental developmental dollars to the Rochester area. We always seem to be fighting a losing battle with Buffalo.
· Exports based industries not only create jobs but also help in reducing the national debt. Special incentives should be formulated to attract and grow such businesses in the Rochester area.
· One will have to wait and see the economic implications of the changed travel requirements with Canada. Delays or unease in traveling between the two countries may manifest itself in reduced trade. The local governments need to be on their toes in making these new changes as smooth and painless as possible. This is one area where federal policy will very directly affect Rochester residents.
· Mexico is also a major export destination. Opportunities exist to leverage our area’s Hispanic heritage and enhance the bilingual potential.
· The exports destination basket is spread very thin. Area businesses should be striving for establishing toeholds in other emerging economies : India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Middle East etc. Exports to China also do not seem to reflect the potential which exists there. Business associations like the Rochester Business Association should help their members in making breakthroughs in the non-traditional export markets. Trade delegations, increased web presence, participation in trade shows etc should help.
· The high proportion of Chemicals/Plastics and Rubber etc. in the mix appears slightly troubling as these are often considered sunset industries in the US, likely to be impacted the most by tougher environmental standards. For all the other Metro areas in the same export size range – Computers and Electronic products were the number one export product. For Buffalo , Transportation equipment was the number one.
Overall, these numbers speak well for the resilience of the Rochester economy and the adaptability of the local businesses to the changing economic environment. The spirit of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking which drove Rochester in the past can continue to do so in the future. Local business and political leadership has a very important role to play by adequately harnessing and directing federal , state and local resources.
Dissent is the heart of a free people
Dissent is the heart of a free people
Deepak Seth Guest essayist
Post Comment
(February 4, 2008) — "Your freedom ends where my nose begins'' is a pithy aphorism that describes the extent to which personal freedoms such as the right to free speech should extend.
Unfortunately over the years, peoples' noses are becoming increasingly longer, thereby significantly impacting the ability of freethinkers to speak their minds. Every group, community, religion, country has a whole plethora of issues on which they would like no open discussion. Anybody who has the temerity to do so will have to undergo the modern equivalent of being attacked by a mob. The wisdom of "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,'' arguably attributed to Voltaire, seems to have been cast into the dustbin.
Each of such groups generally says that you as an outsider cannot comment or are not qualified to comment about the internal workings or history of the group. Their experience is so unique that nobody outside the group can truly fathom what it is and how it has shaped them. Some do not even allow members of their own group to speak freely about what they perceive as shortcomings of their group. Others even go one step further, where the ban not only encompasses free speech but extends to physical appearance, too.
It is for society at large to decide whether free thought, speech and a spirit of inquiry are to be cherished or if human endeavor is to be restricted by the boundaries established by the thought-police of each group. Checking behind one's shoulder should not be the prerequisite for speaking out in a free society. Dissent and criticism are inevitable in any society and should not be curtailed.
The truths of today have been established because someone in the past had the courage to dissent from the prevailing thought. We might still be believing the Earth is flat, sun revolves around the Earth, foul air causes malaria, storks bring babies, etc., if not for the power of dissent, criticism and the logic and reason that they led to. Similarly, some of the truths of today will not stand the test of dissent and will get replaced.
Today, people seem to be scared of linking their opinions with their identity. They rather prefer the anonymity of the blogosphere. This yearning for anonymity is brought about by the fear that a single identifiable statement from them, if misconstrued or taken out of context, can destroy their entire life, career and reputation.
The dissenter/critic is not always right but the very fact that dissent/criticism is allowed speaks of the maturity of a society.Take a look again at the one document that truly rises above this petty mindedness: the U.S. Constitution and its promise of "freedom of speech." I draw inspiration from it and my faith in the principle of "live and let live.''
Community members serve on the Editorial Board and write regular columns.
Deepak Seth Guest essayist
Post Comment
(February 4, 2008) — "Your freedom ends where my nose begins'' is a pithy aphorism that describes the extent to which personal freedoms such as the right to free speech should extend.
Unfortunately over the years, peoples' noses are becoming increasingly longer, thereby significantly impacting the ability of freethinkers to speak their minds. Every group, community, religion, country has a whole plethora of issues on which they would like no open discussion. Anybody who has the temerity to do so will have to undergo the modern equivalent of being attacked by a mob. The wisdom of "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,'' arguably attributed to Voltaire, seems to have been cast into the dustbin.
Each of such groups generally says that you as an outsider cannot comment or are not qualified to comment about the internal workings or history of the group. Their experience is so unique that nobody outside the group can truly fathom what it is and how it has shaped them. Some do not even allow members of their own group to speak freely about what they perceive as shortcomings of their group. Others even go one step further, where the ban not only encompasses free speech but extends to physical appearance, too.
It is for society at large to decide whether free thought, speech and a spirit of inquiry are to be cherished or if human endeavor is to be restricted by the boundaries established by the thought-police of each group. Checking behind one's shoulder should not be the prerequisite for speaking out in a free society. Dissent and criticism are inevitable in any society and should not be curtailed.
The truths of today have been established because someone in the past had the courage to dissent from the prevailing thought. We might still be believing the Earth is flat, sun revolves around the Earth, foul air causes malaria, storks bring babies, etc., if not for the power of dissent, criticism and the logic and reason that they led to. Similarly, some of the truths of today will not stand the test of dissent and will get replaced.
Today, people seem to be scared of linking their opinions with their identity. They rather prefer the anonymity of the blogosphere. This yearning for anonymity is brought about by the fear that a single identifiable statement from them, if misconstrued or taken out of context, can destroy their entire life, career and reputation.
The dissenter/critic is not always right but the very fact that dissent/criticism is allowed speaks of the maturity of a society.Take a look again at the one document that truly rises above this petty mindedness: the U.S. Constitution and its promise of "freedom of speech." I draw inspiration from it and my faith in the principle of "live and let live.''
Community members serve on the Editorial Board and write regular columns.
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