Markets

In August, VerdeXchange News sat down with Stephen Cheung, the Mayor of Los Angeles’ first Director of International Trade, to discuss the purview and mission of his new position, which liaisons between the Port of Los Angeles, LAX, and City Hall. With trade being a critical component of the LA regional economy, and with the infrastructure of trade constantly evolving, Cheung works for goods movement, logistics, storage, and transportation to operate as smoothly as possible to retain customers doing business in and through LA. The potential growth of ethanol trade with Brazil serves as an example of how LA is making strides to adapt.

VerdeXchange News interviewed Arizona entrepreneur, CEO, investor and philanthropist Glenn Williamson, Chairman of EPCOR Water USA, a Canadian-based utilities company that has now come to Arizona. Williamson is also Chairman of the Canada Arizona Business Council, which aims to increase bilateral trade between Canada and Arizona to $5 billion by 2014. He discusses both organizations and their objectives for Arizona, including better management of water supply and demand through the application of data analytics; the economic value of Canada investments in jobs and technology; and future prospects for Arizona business and sustainable initiatives.

As Executive Officer of the California Air Resource Board since 2007, James Goldstene oversees the development and implementation of the Board’s clean air policies and represents the ARB before the legislature and other state, regional, national, and international forums. 2012 was a landmark year for the ARB, with the successful launching of the first of 32 cap-and-trade auctions planned four times annually through the year 2020. In the following interview with VerdeXchange News, James Goldstene elaborates on the plans and partnerships CARB aims to realize in 2013 and beyond.