SBDC to Co-Host Free March 6 Seminar on the Future of Business in India for American Companies

BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center, along with The Port of Bellingham, Western’s College of Business and Economics, and its Center for International Business, will host “India: The Future of the Market for American Firms” from 9-11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 6 at The Port of Bellingham’s Harbor Center Conference Room at 1801 Roeder Ave., in Bellingham.

This event is free and open to the public.

With the recent regime change in India, there has been a large increase in interest in doing business in this emerging market. The new regime is interested in being part of the global economic system and improving regulation of its domestic industry. Thus rules for imports and foreign provision of services are likely to become more favorable. These conditions generally lead to opportunities for new entrants, both foreign and domestic. If the new regime succeeds and the economy grows faster, the potential to sell quality products to an expanding middle class in India will make this an important new market.

Jonathan Bensky, president and CEO of Pacific Northwest Advisors, an international business-advisory group based in Seattle, will deliver the keynote. Bensky is a retired senior Foreign Commercial Service officer with more than 20 years’ experience helping American companies get in and stay in South and Southeast Asian markets, especially India. 

Bensky’s insights will help attendees prosper in the growing and dynamic Indian market, avoid pitfalls and leverage available resources to promote their company’s business.

A panel discussion will follow featuring Pradnya Desh, managing partner for Desh International & Business Law; PH Bhatt, chief technology officer of Alpha Technologies;and Charles Antholt, agricultural economist and senior instructor at Western Washington University.

To RSVP please contact the SBDC at (360)-778-1762 or via email to alexander.sahyouni@wwu.edu.

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center is part of the most comprehensive small-business alliance in the U.S., with more than 1,000 active SBDC programs across the country. Western Washington University’s SBDC receives support from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham, and the City of Bellingham.

Since 1983, Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center has given back to the business community and helped to shape the economic future of Whatcom County by providing free, confidential advising, technical assistance, and research to business owners and managers in an effort to help businesses thrive.