Greensboro, GA

a2b Fulfillment, based in Greensboro, GA, is a third-party logistics provider that specializes in order fulfillment and returns processing, shipping and customer service for companies across the US.  In order to appeal to international clients who wish to market in the USA, a2b Fulfillment has now taken steps to add simple and affordable multi-currency payment and refunding solutions to its already impressive service roster.

By integrating systems with PacNet Services, an international payment processing company that clears e-commerce and mail order payments in the national currencies of over 130 countries, a2b Fulfillment aims to maintain a competitive edge in today’s increasingly global marketplace. PacNet’s comprehensive suite of payment processing services and customizable integration options allow a2b Fulfillment to optimize and automate to  their own specifications, while providing excellent value to potential clients from the US and abroad. One of the most compelling features of this new service for a2b’s international clients is that it allows them to sell within the US without the expense of appointing US directors or investing in local infrastructure such as warehouses, offices, and bank relationships.

“PacNet can now assist a2b Fulfillment in offering clients from overseas easier access to US Dollar merchant accounts, check processing, ACH processing, refund processing, rebate processing and more”, says Brendan Mahar, VP of Business Development for PacNet Services, “Access to US dollar payment processing is the missing link for many companies who would like to test their products here in North America without heavy upfront investment in infrastructure”.

PacNet offers each and every client access to familiar and popular forms of payment in both major and developing markets as well as secure access to PacNet’s proprietary eBanking interface.

Companies that wish to sell in the US market need to accept payments in US Dollars.   a2b  Fulfillment can provide that key service using PacNet’s PCI compliant integration tools.   Providing easy access to an international payment gateway adds significantly to a2b Fulfillment’s relevance in the international marketplace, making them a one-stop shop for merchants based in Europe, but selling to the US.

About a2b Fulfillment: Based in Greensboro, GA, a2b Fulfillment offers a strategic location for economical warehousing and logistics services. The Southeast US location allows for faster delivery and lower overall freight costs for a national shipping program. Warehousing, Order Fulfillment, Order Management, Customer Service, and Returns Processing / Refurbishment programs are available on both Business to Business and Direct-to-Consumer platforms. a2b Fulfillment is an active member of ERA, DRMA, IWLA, SWA, and WERC associations.

About PacNet Services: Vancouver based PacNet Services is an international payment processing company that offers a diverse range of both traditional and electronic payment services for companies around the world. Some of the payment facilities offered by PacNet include credit card processing In multiple currencies, direct debit, EFT, ACH, check processing and bank transfer collection. PacNet also issues payouts by check and EFT for refunds, rebates, commissions and royalties both in major and developing markets. For more information, please visit www.pacnetservices.com.

The BIRD Foundation has announced the next funding cycle for US-Israel joint Project Proposals with a focus on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.  To be considered, a project proposal must include R&D cooperation between two companies or cooperation between a company and a university / research institution (one from the US and one from Israel). The proposal should have significant commercial potential, and the project outcome should lead to commercialization.

The following areas of research and development themes are within the scope of this call: Solar Power, Alternative Fuels, Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Smart Grid, Wind Energy or any other Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency technology.  The conditional grant per project is up to 50% of the R&D costs associated with the joint project, and up to a maximum of $1 million per project.

The application process is web-based and requires prior discussion with the BIRD Foundation.  Initial concept submissions are due by May 3, 2012, and full proposals are due by June 28, 2012. Decisions on projects selected for funding will be made by September 6, 2012. Please refer to BIRD’s website for submission details – www.birdf.com.

BIRD Energy was established following an agreement between the US Department of Energy / EERE and the Israel Ministry of Energy and Water Resources to promote and support joint research and collaborations in the field of Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency.  BIRD Energy is administered by the BIRD Foundation which has been promoting cooperation between US and Israeli companies in various technology areas since 1977.

AICC President Tom Glaser is the Southeast representative for the BIRD Foundation.  He can put interested parties in the Southeast in touch with the relevant BIRD officials.

Hillel Milo of AquAgro Fund

Through a grant of the Lemsky Fund of the Memphis Jewish Federation, the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce is presenting a quarterly seminar series in Memphis featuring Israeli innovations that are changing the world.  This week’s luncheon seminar presented Israeli venture capitalist Hillel Milo, managing partner of Tel Aviv-based AquAgro Fund, and drew 45 people from across the Memphis Jewish and broader communities.   Milo briefed the group on Israel’s innovative water, agricultural and clean technologies and shared examples of his fund’s portfolio companies that are involved in desalination, smart grid, biofuel, aquaculture, solar panels and wind energy.

In addition to AICC and the Federation, organizational co-sponsors included Memphis BioWorks, Greater Memphis Chamber, American Israel Educational Institute, and Ag BioWorks.  Thanks to Scott Notowich (Israel Opportunity Fund), chair of this seminar series, and Lee Harkavy, who hosted the program at his Wyatt Tarrant & Combs office.  The final two seminars will focus on Israeli innovations in Security and Medical Devices

Israel was well represented at the 4th Georgia Logistics Summit last week in Atlanta.   Participating Israeli companies included Tefen-based StePac, developer of  a comprehensive program for monitoring produce freshness and quality as it travels through all links in the cold supply chain; Migdal Ha’Emek-based Haama Ltd, manufacturer of an environmentally friendly insulation material; and Kibbutz Revivim-based Raviv ACS Ltd, a developer and assembly supplier for the automotive industry. The event, organized by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, attracted 1,600 people with over 50 exhibitors, and was staged in conjunction with the MODEX conference, one of the largest for this industry.

The Israeli delegation’s participation was organized as a joint effort of the Israel Economic Mission to the South, The Israel Consulate to the Southeast, and the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, and included a sponsored “Israel booth” that was a focal point of meetings.  The project was inspired by a visit to Atlanta over two years ago by Israel’s Minister of Industry, Trade & Labor who recognized the importance of the Logistics industry to Georgia and the role Israeli companies and their technologies could play in its development.

“No doubt this event provided me a huge capability to start to push our Xsense product in US,” said Udi Aviran, StePac’s Director of Business Development.

Sixty participants from 32 South Carolina companies learned about selling to Israel’s Ministry of Defense at the January 31^st seminar at SCRA in Charleston.  Organized by the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region, the event featured a briefing by the Ministry’s procurement team based at their New York mission and included presentations by six of the companies and one-on-one meetings to discuss how to get their products and services to the attention of the buyers.

Israel receives almost $3 billion annually in US foreign aid, and $2.2 billion of this amount is spent on purchases from American companies.  This presents an outstanding opportunity for Southeast companies, and yet just $37 million was procured in 2010 from companies in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

“While not an insignificant number, we can do much more to educate our companies as well as the Israeli procurement officials to stimulate much higher purchases this year and beyond,” said AICC President Tom Glaser.

A highlight of the seminar was the case study of Tognum America which was recently awarded a multi-million dollar contract to assemble the engines for Israel’s Merkava tank at their Aiken County, South Carolina facility.  A third assembly line is being added to handle this important project.  Another South Carolina company, AMBAC, is a supplier of parts for the tank’s engine.

Co-sponsoring the seminar were the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, the American Israel Educational Institute, Charleston Defense Contractors Association, The InterTech Group, Jack Moore, Charleston Regional Development Authority, Israel Economic Mission, Greater Charleston Chamber of Commerce, Womble Carlyle, SCRA, New Carolina, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and Tognum America.