U.S. Commitment to Free Trade

President Obama visited India and reassured the people of his strong support for a strategic partnership along with encouraging words about his commitment to free trade.

Read more here.

Related article:  Time to advance free trade pacts

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

P&G Extends Reach to Some of the Most Populous Countries in the World

The U.S. and Europe are in a slump so Procter and Gamble plans to target India -- where consumers remain a tough sell -- for its international expansion push.

Read more here.

P&G India here. P&G India: brands.

Photo credit: P&G Ariel, India

There's Something About Domino's Pizza in India

Humor aside, learn more here about Domino's opening its 300th outlet in India and its 65th new location there this year, making India the fastest-growing market for the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based pizza-delivery chain.

How To Chart an Export Course Right Out of the Recession

Here's the task at hand for 46-year-old chief executive N. Chandrasekaran (better known as "Chandra" -- pictured) at Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.: To chart a course for India's largest software exporter out of a recession that deflated global technology spending and exposed the reliance of Indian outsourcing firms on the U.S. and U.K. markets.

In an interview conducted by WSJ reporters Amol Sharma and Paul Beckett, Chandra shares his mind about how he plans to navigate Tata out of the downturn.

Let's focus primarily on the 21 takeaways that I picked up on that might enable you to get a better hold on global strategy for your business:

1. Expand your company's footprint (think about emerging markets).
2. Tackle new areas (such as cloud computing).
3. Make sure you are very close with all your customers.
4. Manage your costs better.
5. It's not about taking costs out; it's about bringing more efficiency.
6. Become closer to your customers.
7. Stay with your customers during the downturn (don't abandon them).
8. Coach your team to have them understand your customer's "pain points."
9. Ask your customers: "What can we do to help?"
10. Don't continue to pursue BIG deals in the pipeline that may never come to fruition.
11. Focus on deals (develop an entirely new strategy) that will come to fruition.
12. Expand your presence in other parts of the world (consider emerging markets).
13. Develop a full suite of services that you can sell end-to-end offerings to customers.
14. Go after "nonlinear" growth. In other words, find ways to generate more revenues with less headcount additions.
15. Create something once, then re-use it to serve multiple customers!
16. As your customers go global, be there before they arrive to service their needs.
17. Send people on-site to make it work -- especially if language is a problem.
18. Select strategic locations to conduct business in.
19. Pick the right strategic location and then scale it (e.g, Mexico).
20. Train people to develop your firm's methodology across all continents.
21. Look at cloud computing as a business model, not a technology.

Tata Consultancy to Expand Footprint in Emerging Markets

75% of Intel's Business Is Overseas

This is a trend that might continue. Global stimulus money has something to do with it.

Find out more here.

Sample: Intel India Systems Research Center

Do You Make Chocolate?

If you manufacture chocolate, then you should be thinking about exporting to or making it in India.

Still, Cadbury estimates that more than half of India's more than one billion people have never tasted chocolate. Traditional milk-based sweets still dominate the industry, and even those are mostly eaten during festival times. That's why, like other candy companies, Cadbury sees giant potential in India.

Read more here to find out why.

5 Strategies For Managing Demand in India's Emerging Market

Stephen McNulty, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, with supply chain solutions provider JDA Software, offers five strategies for managing demand in India's emerging market.

1. Ensure a clear understanding of local principles, customs and barriers.

2. Establish constant communication. India's communications infrastructure is still inadequate for global companies doing business there.

3. Develop comprehensive procedures and processes.

4. Ensure the quality of input information.

5. Identify and integrate the right professionals and insist on teamwork.

As the article states, India presents many opportunities to U.S. manufacturers, but just as many operational challenges.

Read more here.