San Francisco -- Readers will note that no African nations are among the "Top 30 for Trade & Expansion," featured in this edition. The reasons, of course, are complex and difficult to explicate in a survey like this. Centuries of colonization and sudden abandonment certainly led to many of the problems on this continent, and a series of unstable governments has contributed the to poverty endemic to many of the regions.

Rather than focus on these negatives, however, we choose to profile a man and enterprise that is bringing the benefits of globalization to Africa. The efforts of the Fritz Institute come at a time when America is trying to resurrect its image as a humanitarian leader following armed conflict in the Middle East. Irrespective of what many here may think of the war in Iraq, the United States continues to invest its money and human resources in building a better, more secure world.

Much of that effort comes from the private sector, led by former shipping and trade giants like Lynn Fritz. Lara Sowinski's profile of this visionary addresses much of the criticism made by anti-globalization critics, and makes a compelling case for free and unimpeded trade with all nations-even the most wretched.

This edition also marks the first time WORLD TRADE has participated in US Bank's "Financial Supply Chain" conference here in San Francisco. Last month, we were involved with Ex-Im Bank's annual conference in Washington D.C., ("Navigate the World of U.S. Exports"). Reporting on banking and trade finance are key components of WORLD TRADE's editorial mission, and we are making real progress in raising reader awareness of this discipline.

Contributing editor Dick Barovick [barovick@erols.com], who writes frequently on various finance topics, displays his products on the Export Finance Letter OnLine, as well as on his own www.exportsourcebook.com. He welcomes any and all comment on his analysis, and encourages readers to stay in touch.

Beginning next month, we will introduce our new editorial advisory board, comprising professionals from a broad array of trade services. These include IT, education, economic development, logistics, and transportation. We have retained a few of the founding members, while selecting a number of fresh voices to provide direction in the future. The Board serves a very real purpose in determining how we respond to globalization and how we may provide the most reliable ROI to you and your trading partners.

Best regards,

Patrick Burnson, Editor in Chief
PatrickB@worldtrademag.com