Business USA: Do You Need Political Risk Insurance?

Doing Business in Developing Markets

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.    09/30/2015 Developing Markets: The ABCs of Political Risk Insurance A growing number of U.S. companies are expanding their operations into developing nations. But while the rewards can be significant, it can mean dealing with risks like including political instability that can hinder or harm normal business operations. That's where political risk insurance comes in.  In the first installment of an ongoing series of interviews with various U.S. federal agencies about their most critical business programs, we talk with John Moran, vice president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) about political risk insurance. Read the full interview to learn more about political risk insurance, including how it works, who needs it and what kinds of losses it covers. But while some risks in business can have downsides such as rapidly shifting geopolitics, taking beneficial risks in the form of opportunities is part of every successful entrepreneur's DNA. In this newsletter we cover both opportunities and risk reduction across topics such as global markets, healthcare coverage, partnerships and patents. New Global Markets, New Global Opportunities Do you need help determining your first–or next–export market? The International Trade Administration (ITA) can help. Their Top Markets Series provides U.S. companies with the information they need to research exporting opportunities in a range of countries, and within specific industries. Each of the reports rank potential export opportunities, along with associated challenges. View a full list of the industry-specific trade reports available for download, on topics ranging from health IT to renewable energy. Success Story: Smart Power and Smart Partnerships in India As the needs of citizens continue to increase, companies must adapt new technologies to fulfill those new demands. That's certainly been the case with Tata Power Delhi Distributed Limited.  Thanks to an agreement between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Tata Power partnered with U.S. based companies to modernize their electric grid. In the end, this India-based company has grown from serving 800,000 customers to 4.5 million.  Watch this video to learn how the USTDA and Tata Power are bringing Smart Power to India.  Health Insurance for Small Businesses Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance for small businesses begins again on November 1st. Read more about the requirements and how to enroll.  If you currently provide health insurance to your employees, make sure you are up-to-date on the changes to the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. A Deep Dive into Patent Trends, Facts Looking for a deep dive into U.S. patent trends to help inform your next invention? The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) PatentsView tool allows individuals to explore nearly 40 years of data on patenting activity in the United States. Data has been categorized and is easily searchable by patent titles and types, inventors, assignees, patent classes, locations and dates. So whether you're looking for the top inventors of the 1980s or the total amount of patents a company owns, the tool can serve as a source of history and inspiration. Launch the USPTO PatentsView tool to read more about these inventions. Stay Connected! Are you following us on Twitter? If not, you've missed a lot of great information! Check out the Best 5 Tweets from the past week below. Follow us at @BizUSA. 1. Congrats to @HUDgov & BusinessUSA for being 1 of the winners of @NextGov's 2015 #BoldAward: [Tweet] 2. #ICYMI: The Countdown to Manufacturing Day @USNistGov #MFGDay15 #manufacturing @CommerceGov [Tweet] 3. Where is your next #export market? [Tweet] 4. We support #veteran #businesses. Check out our resources tool – designed specifically for you: [Tweet] 5. #DYK that #Canada was #1 for Building Products & #SustainableConstruction #Exports? [Tweet] BUSINESS.USA.GOV IS AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.   Stay Connected:     Unsubscribe, update your subscriptions, or modify your password or email address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by Business.USA.gov. This email was sent to publisher.au.ceomr@blogger.com from: BusinessUSA • 1401 Constitution Ave NW • Washington DC 20230 •