International trade Program
NPES understands the intricate dynamics involved in taking your business to a global level. Thanks to our expertise, a growing number of member companies are enjoying fruitful new business relationships in the international printing marketplace.
NPES Market Representatives provide members with free quarterly market reports and answers to basic questions about markets and business procedures within a given country. Additional customized trade support for NPES members is available on an individually negotiated fee basis. Hallmarks of this customized support include: Creation of detailed, product-specific market studies Escorted site visits and business meetings Personal introductions to prospective customers, dealers and industry leaders.
Our market representatives do not act as marketing or sales agents for member companies. All information provided to NPES and its members is maintained in strictest confidence.
Experienced guidance and support in international trade development is vital for companies who are new to the game of expanding their business beyond borders. Our Market Representatives can help you gain access to trade related services such as financing, help in maintaining quality standards, and ready information on the legal requirements of international business.
International Trade Team
Kip Smythe, Vice President of Global Programs
At NPES Mr. Smythe has overall responsibility for association programs in the area of International Trade, Market Research (through PRIMIR) and Industry Standards. Mr. Smythe also serves as Secretary to the International Color Consortium, a group of companies developing a specification for color management for computer systems, software and peripherals. In 2005 when the NPES market research committee merged with the Graphic Arts Marketing Information Service (GAMIS) to form the Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR), he became President of that organization. Mr. Smythe also served as Secretary to the USA Technical Advisory Group to the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee 130 on Graphic Technology (ISO TC 130). He is currently Convenor of working group 5 of ISO TC 130 that is developing international standards for safety of printing equipment.
Mike Hurley, Director International Trade
Mr. Hurley directs the NPES international offices and representatives, driving a dynamic program of market information and trade promotion services to help NPES members sell their products worldwide. Based at the Association’s headquarters in Reston, Virginia, he has organized and led NPES trade activities in 25 countries for over 15 years. Before joining NPES, he lived and worked in sales and project management in Latin America for nine years. He is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Portuguese and French.
Pernilla Jonsson, Assistant Director, International Trade
As a member of the NPES International Trade Team, Pernilla Jonsson will support NPES members with various activities to help members promote their products and services worldwide. Prior to joining the NPES team, Jonsson worked with promoting Swedish businesses in the U.S and U.S businesses in Sweden. She has lived in the U.S. for the past nine years.
Hamilton Terni Costa, NPES Market Representative for Brazil and Latin America and President, AN Consulting
Hamilton Terni Costa has enjoyed a career covering 35 years in the printing and graphic communications industry. For 18 years he managed a family business doing commercial printing, business forms and packaging. Most recently he was CEO of Quebecor World Mexico, Manufacturing Director for Latin America and General Manager of Quebecor World Sao Paulo. Mr. Terni Costa has served as President of the Brazilian Association of Printing Technology (ABTG) and belonged to the boards of the Brazilian Printing Industry Association (ABIGRAF) and CONLATINGRAF, the Latin American Printing Industry Confederation. Today he manages his consulting firm for the printing industry.
Ya-Ping Zhou, NPES Market Representative for Greater China and President, Zynet International
Mr. Zhou is Founder and President of Zynet International Inc., a California-based global communications marketing company specializing in market development for the communications industry. He spearheaded the launch of the first true business-to-business dual language website servicing China and international graphic arts industries (www.npes.com.cn). Mr. Zhou has written comprehensive market research papers on the Chinese, U.S. and European Union communication industries. He has over 30 years of professional, technical and business management experience in the graphic arts field.
Viren Chhabra, NPES India Market Access
Project Senior Director
Viren Chhabra enjoyed a lengthy career at The Statesman, a leading Indian national daily newspaper, retiring as its Manager and Publisher in New Delhi in 1993. He is the Past President of the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) and Chairman Emeritus of AIFMP’s International Relations Committee. He is also President of the Delhi Imaging and Graphic Arts Association, which he founded in 1960, and Founder-Editor of Printing Times, the official journal of the AIFMP. Mr. Chhabra initiated the South Asian Print Congress and is popularly acclaimed as India’s Print Ambassador. He brings a lifetime of experience and knowledge into his role as NPES’ senior representative for the Indian printing and publishing marketplace.
Tetsuzo “Ted” Asoshina,
NPES Market Representative for Japan
Mr. Asoshina is the founder and owner of Echo Japan Corporation, established in 1977. He has decades of experience in public relations, advertising, and marketing specializing in the printing and graphic communications industry in Japan and abroad.
Leonid Shakhmundes, NPES International Market Representative for Russia/Eurasia
A Ph.D. graduate of Moscow Printing University, Mr. Shakhmundes worked as deputy director of the All Soviet Union Research and Development Institute for Graphics Arts. In his role with NPES he has organized trade missions to Russia and Eurasia, managed exhibits at the annual PoligraphInter exhibition in Moscow, prepared quarterly market reports for Eurasia and helped member companies find dealers in the Russian market. He currently resides in the Boston area and serves as executive director of the NPES American Technology Print Center project in Moscow.