Wednesday 16 August 2017

Day 42 of Mentor on Road, USA

“The greatest sin is to think of yourself as weak”
-Swami Vivekananda

Day 42 of Mentor on Road, USA started with a drive from Crescent city to Portland, Oregon. Mentor on Road has now entered the 29th state of USA - Oregon. So far, we have covered 19 cities in 29 states.

Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It is a major port in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The city covers 145 square miles (380 square kilometers) and had an estimated population of 639,863 in 2016, making it the 26th most populous city in the United States.

Approximately 2,424,955 people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area (
MSA), the 25th most populous MSA in the United States. Roughly 60% of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.

During the 
prehistoric period, the land that would become Portland was flooded after the collapse of glacial dams from Lake Missoula, located in what would later become Montana. These massive floods occurred during the last ice age and filled the Willamette Valley with 300 to 400 feet (91 to 122 m) of water.


Before American pioneers began arriving in the 1800s, the land that eventually became Portland and surrounding 
Multnomah County was inhabited for many centuries by two bands of indigenous Chinook people— the Multnomah and the Clackamaspeoples. The Chinook people occupying the land which would become Portland were first documented by Meriwether Lewisand William Clark in 1805.

Before its European settlement, the Portland Basin of the lower 
Columbia River and Willamette River valleys had been one of the most densely populated regions on the Pacific Coast.

Portland's location is beneficial for several industries. Relatively low energy cost, accessible resources, north–south and east–west Interstates, international air terminals, large marine shipping facilities, and both west coast intercontinental railroads are all economic advantages.


The city's marine terminals alone handle over 13 million tons of cargo per year, and the port is home to one of the largest commercial dry docks in the country. The Port of Portland is the third-largest export tonnage port on the west coast of the U.S., and being located about 80 miles (130 km) upriver, it is the largest fresh-water port. The city of Portland is largest shipper of wheat in the United States, and is the second-largest port for wheat in the world.

The Portland metro area has become a 
business cluster for athletic and footwear manufacturers. The area is home to the global, North American or U.S. headquarters of the following:
  • Nike 
  • Adidas 
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • LaCrosse Footwear
  • Dr. Martens 
  • Li-NingKeen  
  • Hi-Tec Sports
While headquartered elsewhere, MerrellAmer Sports and Under Armour have design studios and local offices in the Portland area. Portland-based Precision Castparts is one of two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Oregon, the other being Nike.

Other notable Portland-based companies include:
  • Film animation studio, Laika
  • Commercial vehicle manufacturer, Daimler Trucks North America
  • Advertising firm, Wieden+Kennedy
  • Bankers, Umpqua Holdings
  • Retailers, Fred Meyer
  • New Seasons  
  • Storables
In the morning, Mentor on Road headed to a wonderful event at the US Customhouse in Portland where we had an interactive session with a few American companies.
                                                





The U.S. Customhouse is a historic custom house located at Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon. It was built to house offices of the United States Customs Service. It is currently used as the Portland, Oregon location for WeWork, a coworking space provider.

They include a proven and fully functional waste plastic to fuel technology, innovative and patented dentistry products, $12000 electric car, rocket stove for cooking, technology to convert old fabrics into a completely new one and innovative wooden sunglasses.


Mentor on Road was highly impressed with their work. We are excited to connect them to India and would soon start working with them. 


Mentor on Road then headed to an event organised by USCS (United States Commercial Services) Portland office by Scott Goddin where we interacted with the top-notch companies CEO’s. Overall, the session was fairly interactive. Mentor on Road presented in brief about the opportunities in New India 3.0 and was glad to answer all the questions raised by the companies successfully. 


Mentor on Road was happy to note that a lot of the companies present in the event are already doing their business in India and many were interested to invest in India after the presentation. Hopefully, this event would prove to be the starting point for them.
                                      













The day ended with successful one to one meetings with a couple of American companies.
                                           










Looking forward to an eventful journey ahead. 


Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)
 

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