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Business Business Profile San Diego has benefited considerably from the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has helped to stimulate commerce from both Canada and Mexico. San Diego’s deep sea fishing industry died about 20-25 years ago, when tuna stocks were depleted in Southern California waters. Now, the county’s three major industries are manufacturing, tourism and the military. Cross-border affiliations with Mexican tourist destinations, such as Tijuana and Ensenada, have increased Southern California’s popularity as a year-round travel destination, as well as stimulated the region’s recreational goods industry. Tourism is the third largest revenue generator of the city’s economy and was hit hard by the effects of the tragedies of 11 September 2001. In 2001, there were 14.7 million overnight visitors to San Diego, down from 15.2 in 2000. Of these visits, 85% were for pleasure – most are made by visitors living in the Western region of the United States. High-tech, knowledge-based industries, such as consumer electronics, wireless communications, software, computers and biotechnology, have also profited from increased domestic and international trade since the late 1990s, resulting in a 6.4% increase in economic production in the San Diego County area. San Diego’s unemployment rate is fairly low at 3.7% compared to the California state average of 5.8% and the national average of 6%. Major business districts include the city’s main financial area, Downtown San Diego, Sorrento Valley and Kearney Mesa, both of which are major manufacturing and commerce areas north of Downtown, and La Jolla, an upper-class tourism and retail district, also north of downtown San Diego. A number of multinational corporations have manufacturing or research and development offices in the San Diego and Tijuana areas. The most notable is the Sanyo Corporation, which has been a leader in fostering commerce between the two regions. Sony Corporation is a long-standing resident of the Southern California area, with manufacturing, engineering, research and development and entertainment facilities in the San Diego, Los Angeles and Tijuana areas. A number of other San Diego based companies, such as Axxis Computer Technologies, Encad Inc, which manufactures high-performance printers, and Global Fax Network, which provides interactive telecommunication services, also support a growing multinational trade. Business Etiquette Dress codes tend to be less conservative in San Diego than in many eastern American cities. Suits are not always mandatory at business functions and many restaurants do not maintain dress codes. Standard business hours in San Diego are 0800-1700. A meeting may include brunch at a popular seaside restaurant or dinner beside the pool at the host’s hillside residence. Southern Californians tend to be open and laid back and it is not uncommon to be invited to someone’s home for dinner, as a prelude or conclusion to a business meeting. A smartly pressed suit or dress will not be considered out of place and is often the best and safest choice on first meetings, although business travellers should include some casual wear in their wardrobe, such as shorts, lounge and swimwear. California is world famous for its wines and these are often featured in casual and formal dining. A high-quality Californian Chardonnay or Pinot Noir may be appropriate as a gift when being invited to someone’s house. Non-smoking bylaws are enforced in most of the city’s public establishments and many Southern California residents do not smoke and are sometimes sensitive about smoking in their house. Business cards are usually exchanged during introductions and e-mail is a standard manner of correspondence in Southern California. |
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