An over-arching theme was that of supply chain globalization and the need for visibility as well as continuity when bumps in the road occur—bumps such as the Japanese earthquake and resultant tsunami and even the volcano in Finland, recent events that illustrate perfectly the need for supply chain flexibility and planning.

This issue of World Trade 100deals with some of these themes as well. Our cover story tells you the top 10 things you need to know when it comes to global trade finance. From risky markets to inventory management to non-bank options, this article tells you how to seamlessly integrate your trade processes with finance.

In addition to integration, visibility into the supply chain is vital. Mobile technology is helping enable this visibility as mobile tools continue to get smaller, lighter, and more efficient. They are making it easier to access real-time information and improve security throughout the supply chain. They are also helping boost product flow and are having a direct operational impact on how companies are doing business.

Much of the talk at CSCMP centered around product sourcing; for business continuity purposes, multi-sourcing is one option that companies can look into.

This month we explore the Middle East/Africa region as a new place that offers opportunities for U.S. expansion. It is an emerging market with good economic growth that is already seeing increases in many industries including pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

An alternative to multi-sourcing is near-sourcing: bringing manufacturing closer to the customer. To that end, Ken Krizner explores the unique partnership the U.S. has with Canada, making trade seamless across the borders of the two countries.

Additionally, I delve into the science of site selection with a recap of presentations from the Logistics Development Forum that was held this past July. Choosing the optimal location for manufacturing and distribution centers is a process that should involve logistical considerations; however, many businesses tend not to look beyond the price of real estate. This article takes a deeper dive into the site selection process and the considerations that businesses need to keep top-of-mind when selecting locations.

The supply chain is increasingly global, and much of the growth discussed at CSCMP was not only inter-continental, but intra-continental in areas such as Southeast Asia and Latin America.

This growth is echoed by the increased traffic on emerging ocean trade routes, one of the themes in “Turning the Tide on Waves of Uncertainty” starting on p. 26. Ocean carriers are optimistic and planning for future growth, which will certainly be necessary when the Panama Canal expansion is complete, scheduled for 2014.

Indeed, it is an exciting time to be part of the global supply chain industry.