NOV. 9 LUNCHEON SEMINAR ON INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS

Hibernia National Bank, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and other organizations are holding a luncheon seminar at the WTC in New Orleans at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 9 on "Going Global: Getting Paid in the Changed Global Environment" featuring Jan Tanner, Vice President of Hibernia’s International Department. The topics include selling abroad in an uncertain international environment, evaluating international payment risk, and limiting financial risk on export sales through letters of credit. Louisiana International Trade Center Director Ruperto Chavarri and WTC Managing Director Eugene Schreiber will moderate the luncheon seminar. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

NOV. 14 BRIEFING ON OVERSEAS SECURITY PRECAUTIONS

The Louisiana Department of Economic Development, World Trade Center, and other organizations are holding a luncheon briefing at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, November 14 in the WTC’s Plimsoll Club on "Corporate and Personal Security Abroad in the Changed Global Environment" featuring security consultant Juan Valadez. Mr. Valadez is a retired senior U.S. intelligence officer specializing in international security and counterterrorism. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

ALL-DAY BXA EXPORT SEMINAR ON NOV. 28

The Bureau of Export Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (BXA) is holding an important all-day seminar on the "Essentials of Export Controls" on Wednesday, November 28, at the World Trade Center in New Orleans from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. BXA officials from Washington will cover a range of export control topics, including the main terms and principles, structure of the Commerce Control List, license exceptions, applications and processing, and export clearance and record keeping.  For more information about the seminar, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK ON DEC. 6

The new Philippine Ambassador to the U.S., Albert del Rosario, will speak at a breakfast briefing on "Doing Business in the Philippines" on Thursday, December 6 at the World Trade Center in New Orleans.

Amb. del Rosario’s career in the private sector spans over four decades, during which he has worked in the banking, insurance, shipping, and telecommunications sectors among others. He has held top-level positions at the Metro Pacific Corporation, the Philippine Indocoil Corporation, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. In 1991, Amb. del Rosario received the Philippine Army Award from President Aquino for his initiatives as Chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education, and in 2001 he received the Edsa II Heroes Award from President Macapagal-Arroyo in recognition of his efforts to promote Philippine democracy.

To register for the December 6 program, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

LITC OFFERS EXPORT/IMPORT SEMINARS AND COUNSELING

The Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC will hold its monthly Export/Import seminar series at the World Trade Center in New Orleans on December 3, 5, and 10 from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Seminar topics include: export/import strategies and market research, pricing, terms, quotations and customs entry procedures, international banking, financing, transportation, and documentation. Participants also receive free counseling on international market research, banking and finance, documentation, transportation, and legal matters.

The LITC is located in the World Trade Center and is part of the Small Business Development Center organization, a nationwide network of hundreds of centers in 50 states and territories assisting small and medium sized companies. Created in 1984 under the University of New Orleans College of Business Administration, the LITC assists business people in the state of Louisiana interested in exporting, importing, and foreign investments. The LITC also maintains an extensive International Trade Library open to the public. For more information about the LITC, call (504) 568-8222, or visit online at www.uno.edu/~litc.

LOUISIANA TRADE EVENTS

Nov. 5, 7, -Export and Import Seminars by the Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC, at the World Trade Center in New Orleans, from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Topics include Export/Import Strategies and Market Research, Pricing, Terms, Quotations and Customs Entry, International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation. Call (504) 568-8222.

Nov. 9 -"Going Global: Getting Paid in the Changed Global Environment" luncheon seminar at 12:00 noon at the WTC in New Orleans featuring Hibernia National Bank Vice President Jan Tanner. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Nov. 14 -"Corporate and Personal Security in the Changed Global Environment" luncheon briefing at 12:00 noon at the WTC featuring international security consultant Juan Valadez. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Nov. 15 -Beaujolais Nouveau Festival at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Annual wine festival features a selection of Beaujolais Nouveau, classic French cuisine, music, and a silent auction. Call (504) 962-4915 for reservations.

Nov. 28 -"Essentials of Export Controls" all-day seminar at the World Trade Center in New Orleans featuring officials from the Bureau of Export Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Dec. 3, 5, -Export and Import Seminars by the Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC, at the World Trade Center in New Orleans, from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Topics include Export/Import Strategies and Market Research, Pricing, Terms, Quotations and Customs Entry, International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation. Call (504) 568-8222.

Dec. 6 -"Doing Business in the Philippines" breakfast briefing at the WTC featuring His Excellency Albert del Rosario, Ambassador of the Philippines to the U.S., from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

STOLT-NIELSEN TO RECEIVE ANNUAL IMAGE AWARD

The Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana will present its 11th Annual Image Award on Wednesday, November 14 to shipping icon Jacob Stolt-Nielsen at a dinner at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center in New Orleans.

The award is presented annually to individuals "who exemplify the truest spirit of promoting the image of Scandinavia in their actions and deeds." Chamber President Leif Pedersen will present the award to Mr. Stolt-Nielsen at the dinner.

Jacob Stolt-Nielsen is the founder and chairman of Stolt-Nielsen S.A., a $3-billion conglomerate with 12,000 employees worldwide. He will be in Louisiana to dedicate the first phase of the new $100-million Stolthaven liquid storage terminal located in Plaquemines Parish.

The honoree was born in 1931 in Haugesund, Norway, educated in Norwegian schools, and trained as a shipbroker in London. He pioneered the parcel tanker industry, forming his first operating company, Parcel Tankers Inc., in 1959 with one vessel, Stolt Avance. Stolt-Nielsen S.A. now operates 142 parcel tankers.

His other innovations include designing diving vessels for use in the North Sea, formation of the first Norwegian public oil company, and the breeding of trout and salmon to start the fish farming industry.

For registration information on the November 14 dinner, call (504) 244-5955.

CLAA TO HOLD 25TH ANNUAL MIAMI CONFERENCE DEC. 4-7

Caribbean Latin American Action (CLAA) is holding its 25th annual Miami Conference this year from December 4 to 7 at the Inter-Continental Hotel. This year’s theme is "Free Trade and Integration: Implications for the Caribbean Basin."

Confirmed keynote speakers at the conference include: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans; President Hipolito Mejia of the Dominican Republic; Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados; Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago; and Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine.

The conference will also host sessions on industry specific issues such as agribusiness, apparel, financial services, intellectual property rights, telecommunications and IT, tourism and transportation. The conference will also provide a forum for the analysis of the effects on new security on trade, travel, and tourism in the region.

For complete details about the December 4-7 Miami Conference, visit the CLAA website at www.claa.org or call (202) 466-7464.

PROPOSED GSP EXTENSION

In mid-October, the House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill that would extend the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) under the Trade Assistance Act of 1974 until December 2002. The current GSP authorization expired on September 30, 2001. The GSP program allows United States importers to enter selected goods duty-free from designated developing nations as a way of encouraging their economic growth and trade.

REPCOM MEXICO 2002 IN THREE CITIES

The U.S. Commercial Service will hold RepCom Mexico 2002 trade missions to Mexico’s three largest markets in April and December 2002. RepCom Mexico 2002 events include a combined trade mission to Monterrey and Guadalajara and a separate mission to Mexico City. Participating in RepCom (Representaciones Comerciales) events is a highly effective means of expanding sales to Mexico, the United States’ second largest trading partner. Participating companies will receive:

• One-on-one appointments with pre-qualified contacts

• U.S. Embassy or Consulate briefing on "Doing Business in Mexico"

• U.S. Embassy or Consulate receptions with key contacts in your industry

• Business counseling targeted to your company’s interests and objectives.

The Monterrey and Guadalajara RepCom is scheduled for April 22 to 26, 2002. The participation fee for both cities is $2,700. Having fostered what is arguably Mexico’s most business-friendly environment, it is no surprise that Monterrey is home to Mexico’s largest industrial conglomerates and is the banking and distribution center for north central and northeast Mexico.

Guadalajara is the second largest distribution and retail center in Mexico, and over 50% of Mexico’s consumer market is located within a 350-mile radius. The Guadalajara area produces over 60% of Mexico’s entire computer output.

For further information, contact Rodolfo Lozada at the U.S. Commercial Service in Monterrey, Mexico by phone at (011-528) 343-4450 or by e-mail at rodolfo.lozada @mail.doc.gov; or contact Alicia Zayas at the U.S. Commercial Service in Guadalajara, Mexico by phone at (011-523) 615-1140 ext. 102, or by e-mail at alicia.zayas@mail.doc.gov.

The Mexico City RepCom will be held December 4 and 5, 2002, with a participation fee of $1,600. Mexico City and the State of Mexico are home to 40% of Mexico’s industrial base and the headquarters of the majority of foreign companies. As one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City offers U.S. companies a very large market in a geographically compact area. For details contact Ms. Martha Sanchez at the U.S. Commercial Service in Mexico City by phone at (011-525) 140-2621, or by e-mail at martha.sanchez@mail.doc.gov.

JAPAN EXCHANGE AND TEACHING PROGRAM

The Government of Japan is accepting applications for the 2002 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. The application deadline is December 5, 2001. Applicants may apply to teach English at middle or high schools in Japan as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), or to work in local government offices as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs).

Since its establishment in 1987, more than 26,000 U.S. citizens have participated in the JET program. Through their hands-on experience living and working in Japan, JET participants develop a deep understanding of Japanese society and people.

"Now, more than ever, developing and strengthening cross-cultural ties is important, since mutual understanding benefits all of us," said Consul General Hideto Mitamura. "The JET Program offers new graduates and young professionals from 39 countries an opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. Participants become bridges between Japan and their home countries."

Applicants within the United States must be American citizens and have a bachelor’s degree by June 2002. Proficiency in Japanese is not required for ALT positions. Candidates receive a generous tax-exempt monthly stipend, roundtrip airfare to Japan, and paid training. The initial contract is for one year, renewable twice, for a maximum of three years.

Applications are available at www.embjapan.org/neworleans or by calling the Consulate General of Japan at (504) 529-2101.

NEW LAKE CHARLES PETROCHEMICAL DIRECTORY

The 2001-2002 Lake Charles Petrochemical Directory is now available through the World Trade Center of New Orleans. The directory, produced by Homesite Co., provides contacts and addresses, detailed maps of plant locations, product information, and plant history for petrochemical companies in the Lake Charles region. The expanded directory also includes other Louisiana plants not covered in Homesite’s Lower Mississippi River Directory, which is also available through the WTC.

The cost of the 2001-2002 Lake Charles Petrochemical Directory is $35 for World Trade Center members and $45 for non-members. To purchase the directory, or for additional information on the WTC’s other reference materials, call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or visit the WTC online store.

The World Trade Center also carries satellite maps of Mississippi River Industries from the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, as well as the 2000 Directory of Petrochemical Industries along the Lower Mississippi River. Both the satellite maps and the 2000 Petrochemical Industries Directory are available in hardcopy or CD-ROM format.

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU GALA AT WINDSOR COURT ON NOV. 15

Following a 20-year tradition of French chambers of commerce abroad, the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Chapter, will hold the official event celebrating the arrival of the first Beaujolais Nouveau 2001. Le Festival du Beaujolais Nouveau 2001 will feature exclusively Beaujolais Nouveau wines at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans on Thursday, November 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Windsor Court Chef James Overbaugh and Executive Sous-Chef Philippe Pinon will delight guests with Foie Gras, saucisson en Brioche with Lentil Bourguignone, rabbit terrine, and other "classics" of the rich culinary tradition of the Burgundy region to pair the wines. Ronnie Kole, the musical ambassador of French wines, will play selections from his "Music of the Vines" CDs to top off what will be a most memorable evening.

A French-inspired Silent Auction will provide plenty of fun ideas and good deals for the holiday season shoppers. The grand prize, a trip for two aboard the Orient Express Train London-Paris-Venice followed by a three-night stay at the Orient-Express Hotel Cipriani in Venice with Delta Air Lines transatlantic business class transportation, will be auctioned off together with other exotic trips to Tahiti, Peru, the Caribbean, and France. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the French-American Chamber of Commerce and WRBH Reading Radio for the Blind.

At the conclusion of the gala, the French-American Chamber of Commerce will honor a citizen of Louisiana who has significantly promoted close relations between Louisiana and France. U.S. Senator John Breaux will be the 2001 recipient of this award for Public Service Achievement.

Tickets are $70 per person. To purchase tickets, please call the Windsor Court Hotel with a major credit card at (504) 962-4915 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For more information, call the French-American Chamber of Commerce at (504) 524-2042 or visit its web site at www.faccla.com/festival.htm.

NEW ONLINE SERVICE LAUNCHED ON EXPORT REGULATIONS

Two U.S. Department of Commerce agencies, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Trade Administration (ITA) last month launched Export Alert! a free Internet based service that automatically notifies interested businesses when foreign governments propose regulations that might influence the treatment of U.S. exports. Export Alert! can spare businesses and other organizations from unwanted surprises sometimes caused by unanticipated changes in technical requirements that dictate terms of market entry.

Export Alert! will gather, organize and disseminate notifications of proposed regulatory changes issued by any of 142 nations that are members of the World Trade Organization. Under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) WTO members are required to report proposed central government regulations that may have an impact on trade.

These TBT notifications are submitted to the WTO Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. In turn, notifications are made available to designated TBT inquiry points in member nations. The U.S. inquiry point is NIST’s National Center for Standards and Certification Information, or NCSCI, which manages the new service.

By electronic mail, Export Alert! automatically sends WTO-distributed notifications to subscribing organizations and individuals. Notifications are sorted among 41 fields of activity that range from health-care technology to agriculture to construction materials. Subscribers can specify the fields of activity that they wish to track. They also can monitor developments in selected countries or regions, such as Japan or the European Union.

In addition to describing the proposed regulation, notifications list the country of origin, the product covered and the deadline for comments. Interested subscribers can contact NCSCI to receive full-text copies of the proposals. The center also will distribute comments from U.S. organizations to the notifying country.

Export Alert! is expected to make it easier for U.S. companies to stay on top of foreign technical regulations that affect their overseas business. Early warning should help to ensure that U.S. organizations have adequate lead time to review and comment on proposed regulations- and perhaps head off regulations judged to pose a barrier to trade.

Last year, WTO members issued more than 600 TBT-related notifications. The greatest numbers were issued in the areas of telecommunications, appliances, beverages, chemicals, food products, electrical equipment, motor vehicles and construction products.

The Export Alert! service was inaugurated during World Standards Week, an annual event intended to recognize the ubiquitous, but often invisible, roles that standards play in society, especially commerce and industry. Standards are agreed-upon specifications designed to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. Examples are common formats for exchanging information between computers, performance requirements for building materials and "plug and play" specifications for electronic appliances.

Organizations and individuals interested in subscribing to the Export Alert! service can sign up on-line at http://ts.nist.gov/ncsci. For additional information, call NCSCI at (301) 975-4040 or ncsci@nist.gov.

As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurements, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. For more information on NIST, see its website at www.nist.gov. To explore a century of NIST partnership with U.S. industry, benefits to the public and impacts on economic growth, go the NIST centennial (1901-2001) website at www.100.nist.gov.

GLOBAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

For the sixth consecutive year, the Global Junior Championship will be recognized as an official event of Super Bowl week. This important event has become a showcase for amateur tackle football initiatives around the world and in the host communities. More than 3,000 media including 400 from outside the United States will be in New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXVI. "NFL Futures" is the development program that supports existing amateur football programs in Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The program has grown to four teams with 16 to 19 year olds representing Europe, Canada, the U.S., and Japan. All games will be played at Hahnville High School from Wednesday, January 30 to Saturday, February 2. For more information about the Global Junior Championship games in Hahnville or sponsorship opportunities for this event, call (817) 326-3578.

INCOTERMS OVERVIEW

International traders use a widely agreed-upon shorthand type of terminology called INCOTERMS to define the basis for the sale.

Once the buyer and seller agree on one of these terms, it will clarify: (1) where in the journey the seller releases the goods to the buyer; (2) what charges and documentation are the seller’s responsibility prior to that point; and (3) what charges and documentation are the buyer’s responsibility after that point.

An INCOTERM is always paired with a location and is meaningless without it. For instance, FCA Memphis is quite a different price from DAF Laredo, but the same goods may pass through both points en route to a customer in Mexico.

Here are the available choices (as per INCOTERMS 2000):

Any Mode of Transport, including Multimodal:

• EXW - Ex Works (+ named place)
• FCA - Free Carrier (+ named place)
• CPT - Carriage Paid To (+ named place of delivery)
• CIP - Carriage and Insurance Paid to (+ named delivery place)
• DAF - Delivered at Frontier (+ named place along border)
• DDU - Delivered Duty Unpaid (+ named place of delivery)
• DDP - Delivered Duty Paid (+ named place of delivery)

Sea and Inland Waterway Transport Only:

• FAS - Free Along Side (+ named port of shipment)
• FOB - Free on Board (+ named port of shipment)
• CFR - Cost and Freight (+ named destination port)
• CIF - Cost, Insurance and Freight (+ named destination port)
• DES - Delivered Ex Ship (+ named destination port)
• DEQ - Delivered Ex Quay (+ named destination port)

The International Chamber of Commerce released the first version of INCOTERMS in 1936. Periodic revisions have been necessary due to innovations such as intermodal containers, blended rail/sea cargo rates, roll on/roll off vehicles, and electronic data interchange. The latest version is INCOTERMS 2000. Certain INCOTERMS in widespread usage tend to persist despite the revision process. If you see a term that you do not recognize, such as C&F Guayaquil, your trading partner may simply be using an earlier version of INCOTERMS. He might speak of a price that is CIF Mexico City Airport, although the current modern term is CIP Mexico City Airport.

Here are a few thumbnail examples from the U.S. exporter’s perspective:

• EXW New Orleans means, "Here are the goods; come and get them." Any export permits are the buyer’s concern; seller does not even have to load the truck.

• FCA New Orleans shows where goods properly cleared for export will be turned over to the main carrier for shipment abroad. Whatever means of conveyance picks up the goods from seller’s place of business, exporter pays any cost of loading it aboard. If main carrier does not provide cargo pickup services free to the exporter, he pays cost of inland delivery to that carrier’s terminal in New Orleans. Overseas buyer is liable for transportation and insurance expenses once main carrier receives the cargo. (If railroad in New Orleans issues a Maersk bill of lading, accepting cargo destined for shipment by Maersk Lines out of a California port, exporter has documented FCA compliance.)
• CPT Istanbul means the vendor’s price includes freight all the way there, but insurance is up to the buyer. Seller has no stake in insuring anything past the point where he turns the cargo over to the export carrier.

• CIP Lisbon means vendor’s price includes freight and insurance all the way to Lisbon. Once it comes over the ship’s side or down the plane’s ramp at the other end, the buyer takes full possession.

• DAF Laredo means vendor’s goods, properly cleared for export, will be at border point ready to cross over to the other side. Vendor will bear all costs and risks of moving goods across the border and beyond.

• DDU Mendoza means that transport of the goods all the way inland to Mendoza is paid for by the seller, although the city is not the place of entry. Getting the goods through Argentine customs in Buenos Aires is the buyer’s responsibility and at the buyer’s expense.

• DDP Madrid means the exporter’s delivered price includes customs duties and surcharges in the country of destination. Exporter also bears the risk that his goods may be rejected by customs for whatever reason (diseased fruit, inadequate product labeling, banned ingredient, lower-than-expected quota, etc.).

• FAS New Orleans means the price includes delivery to a point alongside the vessel, whereupon ownership of the cargo passes to the buyer. Any export permits are the buyer’s concern. (Documentary evidence of FAS compliance is a clean dock receipt, with no shortages or damage apparent.)

• FOB vessel Houston means the vendor undertakes to get the cargo that is properly cleared for export loaded onto the outbound vessel. (Documentary evidence of FOB compliance is a clean on-board bill of lading.)

• CFR Guayaquil means the vendor’s price includes ocean freight all the way there, but the insurance is up to the buyer. Exporter has no stake in insuring anything past the point where he turns the cargo over to the export carrier. (Documentary evidence of CFR compliance is a clean on-board bill of lading showing freight prepaid to the destination port.)

• CIF Yokohama means the vendor’s price includes freight and insurance all the way there. Once the cargo passes the ship’s rail at the destination port, it belongs to the buyer. (Documentary evidence of CIF compliance is a marine insurance certificate plus a clean on-board bill of lading, showing freight prepaid to the destination port.)

• DES Hong Kong means the buyer will take ownership of the goods while they are still on board the vessel in the destination port, before unloading.

• DEQ Rotterdam obliges the vendor to get the export cargo offloaded onto the quay or wharf at the other end before passing ownership to the buyer. Since goods are normally liable for import duties as soon as they touch the wharf, DEQ Rotterdam duty unpaid is a modification that relieves the seller of responsibility for getting the goods through customs.

Normally it is in the exporter’s interest to insure any portion of the cargo movement for which he could be held liable under the INCOTERM. However, the CIF and CIP terms are the only ones that assure the buyer that the exporter has obtained insurance.

For more information about INCOTERMS, log on to the International Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.incoterms.org.

(This article was edited from original material provided by Clif Gaston, Senior Trade Specialist at the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center. Mr. Gaston can be contacted at (504) 589-6548; e-mail: clif.gaston@mail.doc.gov. For export counseling assistance in the North Louisiana area, contact the Shreveport U.S. Export Assistance Center at (318) 676-3064; e-mail: patricia.holt@mail.doc.gov.)

TRADE MISSION TO TURKEY

On November 5-8, the Commercial Service/U.S. Department of Commerce is organizing a trade mission to Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir in Turkey.

Agenda:

Nov. 5-6 -- Istanbul Trade and Investment Mission:

• Meet the Turkish corporate community at the highest levels
• One-on-one matchmaking appointments

Cost: $80 including Nov 5 reception and Nov 6 briefing.

Nov. 7 -- Ankara Conference:

• General Brent Scowcroft, Chairman of American Turkish Council (ATC) and Akin Ongor, Chairman of the Turkish-U.S. Business Council (TUSBC), will speak and co-chair the first TUSBC and ATC conference in Ankara. Government and business leaders will attend, focusing on trade and investment opportunities for U.S.-Turkish commercial relations.
• Other speakers include the Prime Minister; Deputy Prime Minister; Economy Minister; Energy and Natural Resources Minister; and the Undersecretary Secretary for Foreign Trade.
• Agribusiness, Construction, Defense, Energy, Information Technology, Mining, Textiles, and Tourism are the focus sectors.

Cost: $115 including lunch.

Nov 8.—Izmir Visit:

• Visit the Aegean Free Trade Zone;
• Meet the Turkish and American corporate community in Izmir.

Cost: complimentary

Air fare and hotel are not included.

Call the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546 for more information.

NOV. 30 PROGRAM ON CHINESE INLAND PORT PROJECTS - Postponed

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) will hold an all-day program describing development opportunities in inland waterway projects in China at the World Trade Center in New Orleans on Friday, November 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A delegation of eleven Chinese inland port authority officials will be available during the day for one-on-one meetings. The members of the delegation seek contact with U.S. developers, investors, and suppliers in the inland waterway sector who can provide tug boats, dredging vessels, work boats, push boats, port handling equipment for loading and off-loading, vessel traffic and navigation systems, equipment pollution control and recovery equipment, and flood control equipment. The inland port projects under development in China offer significant business and export potential for Louisiana companies.

Registration for the all-day briefing is $30 and includes breakfast, lunch and all project description materials. Postponed

INDUSTRY MARKET INSIGHT REPORTS

Below is a list of various U.S. Commercial Service Industry Market Insight Reports. For the entire report(s), call Jo Daugherty at the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546.

• Australia - Tariff Cuts on Imported Capital Goods
• Brazil - U.S. Medical Equipment Opportunities in Bahia
• Czech Republic - Chemical and Petrochemical Profiles of Leading Firms
• India - Agricultural Machinery Market
• Indonesia - Guidance to U.S. Exporters of Used Equipment
• Italy - Leads for Sporting Goods Manufacturers
• Jamaica - Seeking Architects and Structural Engineers to Design New Milk Processing Plant and U.S. Firms Interested in Supplying Milk and Food Processing Equipment
• Kuwait - Opportunities for U.S. Health Care and Medical Equipment Firms
• Mexico - Refurbished Medical Equipment Show in Mexico City, October 23-25, 2001
• Russia - Contacts in NW Russia for U.S. Firms Exploring Commercial Opportunities
• South Africa - Port Upgrade: U.S. Export Potential
• Ukraine - U.S. Commercial Service will Display Your Catalogs at Oil and Gas Show
• Uzbekistan - New Opportunities in the Oil and Gas Sector
• Vietnam - Saigon Petro Needs Help to Produce Unleaded Gasoline

BREAKBULK CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS

The Journal of Commerce Group is holding its 12th Annual Breakbulk Transportation Conference and Exhibition once again in New Orleans from September 30 to October 2 at the Marriott Hotel. The featured speakers include: David Phelps, President of the American Institute for International Steel; Jerry Hingle, Director of International Marketing, Southern Forest Products Association; Thomas Griffin, Senior Vice President, Transoceanic Shipping Co; Ken Mayeux, President, Gulfship Maritime, Inc.; Bertram Rickmers, Chairman, Rickmers Reederei Line; and Eric Hansen, Vice President, Cooper/T. Smith. For details and to register online, visit www.joc.com/jocinformation/jocon.shtml or call (800) 223-0243, ext. 7154.

GERMAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SEEKING CANDIDATES

As the countries of the world become more interdependent, the Robert Bosch Foundation offers an excellent opportunity to gain an in-depth knowledge of a different political, economic, and cultural environment. Each year the Robert Bosch Foundation in Stuttgart, Germany gives 20 young American professionals the chance to work in full-time internships in Germany. During the nine-month program, Bosch Foundation Fellows work in Germany in branches of the federal government, the federal parliament headquarters of private corporations and in other high-level internships relating to their interests and experience.

The internships are supplemented by a variety of seminars in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, and Poland with top-level elected officials as well as leading representatives from industry and academia. Candidates for the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program are competitively chosen from the fields of business administration, economics, journalism, and mass communication, law, political science and public affairs. If needed, German language training will be provided. Since 1984, over 250 Americans have been provided with this unique opportunity. Most of those selected to participate in this program are very likely to become leaders in their professional fields in the future and commit themselves to the long-term stabilization and growth of German-American relations.

Applications must be received by October 15, 2001 for the program beginning in September 2002. For further information, contact CDS International, Mr. Martin Block, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY, 10017, call (212) 497-3518 or e-mail bosch@cdsintl.org. The web address is www.csdintl.org/rbfpintro.html.

EXPORT AMERICA MAGAZINE PROVIDES USEFUL TRADE INFO

Export America, the monthly magazine from the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has all the information a small or medium-sized business needs in order to export profitably in the new global business environment. Each issue is full of information about international trade opportunities, trade events, success stories of top exporters, export statistics, and advice that can give your company a competitive edge in the international marketplace. Check out Export America’s website at http://exportamerica.doc.gov. Recent articles featured:

• Doing business in Africa,
• Following proper business etiquette abroad,
• Registering a trademark overseas,
• Finding reliable logistics companies, and
• Locating market opportunities in Latin America.

You will find the format and information indispensable for growing your business overseas. Subscribing is quick and easy with Export America online forms or you may subscribe by fax, phone or mail through the Superintendent of Documents. Annual subscriptions are $55. Call toll free (866) 512-1800, visit http://bookstore.gpo.gov or http://exportamerica.doc.gov to subscribe. Act now to receive the September issue, devoted to Trade Promotion Authority and how it will benefit American business in international trade.