EXPORT REGULATIONS SEMINAR AT WTC ON FEBRUARY 17

On Thursday, February 17 specialists from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will conduct an all-day seminar on the new regulations and how to submit a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) through the Automated Export System (AES). The seminar will be held at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center in New Orleans.

Public Law 107-228, signed by President Bush in 2002, which will take effect later in 2005, will require that all persons who are required to file export information under Chapter 9 of Title 13, United States Code, must file it through the Automated Export System (AES). This new system will replace the paper Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED). When the new law is implemented, shippers failing to use the AES will be fined and their shipments seized by CBP (per Census Bureau RIN 0607-AA38).

The U.S. Export Regulations Seminar will enable exporters to be prepared for this impending requirement. Specialists from the U.S. Census Bureau and CBP will present the new regulations and explain how to submit SEDs through the AES. Topics at the seminar will include: the filing of required export information; the Automated Export System (AES); Schedule B classifications; port requirements; and efforts against terrorism and international narcotics trafficking.

The seminar admission fee for a company or organization’s first registrant is $150, and $100 for each additional attendee, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and all seminar materials. For additional details and registration information, contact the seminar coordinators at (301) 763-2238, or visit www.census.gov/mso/www/training. (Note: A related hands-on AES Certification Workshop to be conducted by Census on February 18 at the downtown center of the University of New Orleans is already fully subscribed.)

GLOBAL CHALLENGES OF A SECURE RETIREMENT ON FEBRUARY 25

On Friday, February 25 the WTC will host a luncheon program on "The Global Challenges of a Secure Retirement" conducted by Paul Stevens, President of the Investment Company Institute. Mr. Stevens will discuss the critical demographic, financial and political considerations confronting American policymakers as they undertake a potentially historic debate in the future of Social Security. The topic is especially timely as President Bush has put Social Security reform at the top of the nation’s domestic agenda, leading to a national debate on the country’s retirement system. The U.S. is not alone in the challenge of providing a secure retirement system for its aging population. Developed nations throughout the world from Japan to Chile and across Europe also face this issue.

The Investment Company Institute is the national association of U.S. mutual funds. ICI member companies manage some $7.8 trillion in assets on behalf of 92 million shareholders. Mr. Stevens, a New Orleans native, is a leading voice in economic and regulatory policy discussions in Washington. To register for the February 25 luncheon, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

ONE-YEAR MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA BETWEEN U.S. AND CHINA

As of January 25, a new agreement between the United States and China allows tourists and business executives to travel between the U.S. and China under a single visa for 12 months instead of seeking new visas for each trip. The change in policy is expected to dramatically improve U.S. manufacturers’ abilities to sell goods and services to their customers in China and create jobs for Americans, according to U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee Chairman Don Manzullo. For details, go online at www.house.gov/smbiz/.

5TH ANNUAL GULF COAST STATES WORLD TRADE CONFERENCE

For the last several years, a Gulf Coast trade alliance (Louisiana Economic Development; Mississippi Development Authority; Mobile Chamber of Commerce; and the University of West Florida/Small Business Development Center) has held an annual program on international trade. The theme for the 2005 Gulf Coast World Trade Conference is "Doing Business in Brazil and Canada". The event is scheduled for May 25-26 (as part of World Trade Week) at the World Trade Center in New Orleans. Details on the program will be available soon; for preliminary information call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546.

MOROCCO: NEWEST MARKET OF THE MONTH

The U.S. Commercial Service announces Morocco as its newest market of the month for U.S. exporters. Morocco is an expanding economy strategically situated at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The upcoming U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will be implemented this spring, will create multiple opportunities for U.S. companies. Visit http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/press_room/marketofthemonth/morocco/morocco.html.

INTERNATIONAL TAX PLANNING WORKSHOP IN BATON ROUGE

J.P. Morgan Chase-Global Trade Services (formally Bank One NA) is sponsoring a mid-day luncheon workshop on "Tax Strategy and Planning Opportunities for Exporters" on Friday, February 18 in Baton Rouge at the Bank One north tower on 451 Florida Street. The workshop will be conducted by Edward K. Dwyer, a CPA and international tax specialist. The program will cover the repeal of the Extraterritorial Income Exclusion in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-357) and the reduced tax on dividends in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-27). The focus will then turn to the main topic: the new tax strategy available to exporting companies through the interaction of the retained Interest Charge DISC (IC DISC) within the context of the new landscape of the taxation of an individual’s dividend income. The registration for the workshop is $35 per person. To register, contact Ann Morgan by phone at (337) 291-5474 or e-mail at amorgan@lafayettegov.net.

MARCH 3 EXPORT SEMINAR IN BATON ROUGE

For the third consecutive year, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and other sponsors are presenting a seminar on exporting. This year’s theme is "Exporting the Right Way", with topics such as:

• Developing an Export Marketing Plan
• How to Use Export Credit Programs
• Shipping and Documentation
• Doing Business in Mexico
• Doing Business in Japan

Speakers include:

• Hitoshi Hasegawa, Chief Executive Director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) office in Houston
• Francisco Ceron, Senior Commercial Specialist, U.S. Embassy-Mexico City
• Kelly Kemp, Trade Finance Specialist, U.S. Ex-Im Bank
• Rick Schulze, International Trade Finance Specialist, SBA
• William Cummins, First Vice President, JP Morgan Chase/International

The seminar will be held on March 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the LABI Conference Center in Baton Rouge. To register or for more information contact Jean Collins at (504) 589-6546, or e-mail at jean.collins@mail.doc.gov, or call Robin Adams at (225) 928-5388.

NEW TRADE SPECIALIST AT EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER

The U.S. Department of Commerce/New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center is pleased to welcome International Trade Specialist Delilah DeSouza to the staff. Prior to coming on board with the Department of Commerce, Delilah was a Trade Development Specialist with the International Center in Lafayette, where she organized export programs and provided market research, trade leads, and other trade assistance to area companies. As a partner of Louisiana Economic Development, she co-organized oil and gas trade missions to Canada, Venezuela, Trinidad, and Brazil. Delilah spent 14 years living abroad in Honduras, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. She holds a General Studies degree, with a concentration in International Business and Marketing, from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Delilah will cover southwest Louisiana, particularly the Lake Charles and Lafayette area. For export assistance, call Delilah (504) 589-6730 or e-mail delilah.desouza@mail.doc.gov.

U.S. PAVILION AT ENVIRO TECH SHOW IN PARIS

The U.S. Commercial Service invites American firms to participate in its section of the U.S. Pavilion at Intersol 2005 in Paris on April 19-21. This show is Europe’s premier environmental technology trade show and conference dedicated solely to contaminated site and groundwater remediation processes, technologies, and services. The participation package includes a turnkey booth in the highly visible U.S. Pavilion, pre-show promotion, a market briefing, logistical and special on-site assistance, interpreters, market studies, free admission to the three-day conference, and specialized round table seminars and specially customized marketing assistance to U.S. Pavilion exhibitors for the duration of the show. For details, visit www.buyusa.gov/france/en/intersol2005.html.

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR 2005 SABIT GRANTS PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT) offers competitive grants to cover a share of the costs of hosting mid-to senior-level Eurasian managers and scientists for three to six months of hands-on, professional training in U.S. managerial, research, and technology development practices. The SABIT Grant Program encourages U.S. exports and investment in Eurasia and assists economic development by facilitating partnerships between the United States and Eurasian business and scientific communities.

Participating U.S. organizations may either nominate a candidate from their existing Eurasian business contacts, or work with SABIT to recruit and select a qualified candidate. Organizations can apply to host trainees from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Any U.S. profit or non-profit organization or institution may apply. The Grant Program is ideally suited for small and medium-size businesses that are new-to-market exporters looking to establish long-term relationships with potential customers, distributors, or partners. Organizations currently operating in Eurasia may also utilize a SABIT Grant to expand relationships with and train existing partners, or to establish additional regional representative offices. The application deadline is April 1. Details and application requests are online at: www.mac.doc.gov/SABIT/index.html.

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT HONORS MARITIME GROUP

On January 5, the Louisiana Maritime International Chamber of Commerce (LMICC) received a "Certificate of Appreciation for Achievement in Trade" from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Accepting on behalf of LMICC was William S. App, Jr., president of the organization. Presenting the awards were Donald van de Werken, Director, New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center; Jim Dartez, President of Royce Technologies and former Chairman of the Louisiana District Export Council; and Eugene Cornelius, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration. LMICC was formed in 1997 as a nonprofit organization to support the international transportation sector and provide educational awareness and issues related to international trade. The Department of Commerce certificate is awarded to recognize trade associations, foreign business partners, and U.S. government agencies for supporting U.S. export development and for creating opportunities for U.S. businesses through trade.

U.S. CATALOG SHOW AT IRAQ TRADE FAIR

U.S. firms unable to send staff or afford an exhibit booth at the "Rebuild Iraq 2005" Trade Fair on April 4-7 in Jordan but want to benefit from the many quality contacts the show provides should participate in the U.S. Catalog Show at the Fair. The $750 registration fee includes a special catalog display area in the U.S. Pavilion staffed by Commercial Service representatives who will greet visitors and collect all inquiries generated by the product literature and forward the leads to the American firm immediately after the show. For details on the trade fair and/or the catalog show go online at www.rebuild-iraq-expo.com/, or contact the International Trade Fairs President, Mr. Bechara Nacouzi, directly by phone at (514) 685-3530, or e-mail: bnacouzi@videotron.ca. Space is limited so interested parties should act quickly.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN

On March 8-9, the "Lighting the Way" conference will feature testimonials and how-to presentations from business women in industry and international trade. Speakers include Mississippi First Lady Marsha Barbour, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior International Trade Advisor Leslie Schweitzer, and top-level representatives from Viking Range and United Parcel Service. The Small Business Liaison Officer from Northrop Grumman, one of Mississippi’s largest employers, will discuss how to take advantage of the small business procurement process. The event will be held at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Visit www.mswtc.org/events/ or call (601) 353-0909 for details.

BETTER AIR LINKS BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND NOVA SCOTIA

Lafayette’s International Center (Le Centre International) has announced that Louisiana travelers will soon have a much easier time getting to the Acadian communities of eastern Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia.

The U.S. Government has recently announced its intention to extend airport pre-clearance to the Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). Greg Roberts, Lafayette Regional Airport Director of Aviation, stated "This program will enable travelers to be treated as domestic passengers on arrival in the U.S., where they can enjoy shorter and easier connections to other U.S. cities, as well as direct access to U.S. airports that have no customs and immigration inspection facilities, such as the Lafayette Regional Airport."

The program allows travelers and their goods to be inspected by U.S. officers for the purposes of customs, immigration, public health, food inspection, and plant and animal health before flights depart from Canada for U.S. destinations. The hope is that there will be increased travel from Nova Scotia to Lafayette as a result, perhaps in the form of charter operation.

In August 2004, the Lafayette International Center organized an Acadiana delegation to Halifax, which included Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Brenda Burley, Airport Director of Aviation Greg Roberts, Lafayette Consolidated Government President Joey Durel, along with State Representative Clara Baudoin and several Acadiana mayors. During a meeting at the Halifax International Airport to explore opportunities to establish better air links between Nova Scotia and Louisiana, the matter of the pre-clearance was raised, and the Acadiana delegation vowed to support Halifax’s efforts to obtain this pre-clearance status.

As a follow-up to this visit to Halifax, the International Center of Lafayette formed an Acadie-Louisiane Committee, composed of representatives of several agencies and associations interested in better links between the Acadian communities of eastern Canada and the Cajun population of south Louisiana. The committee is charged with continuing to explore opportunities not only for better air links, but also to develop stronger relations between universities and schools, as well as the business communities of each region.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBIT AND CATALOG SHOW IN MONTREAL

"Americana 2005", the number one international environmental exhibition in eastern Canada, will take place in Montreal on April 6-8. Trade opportunities exist for products and services for water and wastewater treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, environmental instrumentation, and engineering and consulting services. The Commercial Service (CS) in Canada is coordinating the U.S. Pavilion that will offer a prime show floor location and maximum exposure for a fee of $2,350. U.S. firms may also participate at the CS Environmental Technologies Catalog Showcase. For only $150, product literature will be on display in the U.S. Pavilion where CS staff will introduce U.S. products and services to buyers and key government decision makers. The registration deadline is February 28. Contacts for the exhibition and catalog show are: Commercial Specialist Pierre Richer/ U.S. Consulate Montreal at e-mail Pierre.richer@mail.doc.gov or Environmental Commercial Specialist Richard Vinson/U.S. Consulate Halifax at e-mail Richard.vinson@mail.doc.gov.

FRENCH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER

The French American Chamber of Commerce/ Louisiana Chapter (FACC/LA) has launched its 2005 membership drive. Members who join by February 10 will receive a complimentary entry to a raffle of two Air France tickets to Paris. The drawing will be held at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, on Monday, February 14 at the Blue Room of the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans. Guests will learn about the Chamber’s past accomplishments, exciting plans for 2005, and will hear a witty presentation by Ruth Mastron, intercultural relations specialist and author of the book "Aucontraire! Figuring Out the French." One of the attendees will be the lucky winner of the two Air France tickets to Paris! For additional information on the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, raffle, and how to join, contact Valerie Guillet at (504) 561-0070 or by e-mail at info@faccla.com.

HIGH-LEVEL LOUISIANA TRADE MISSION VISITS PANAMA

A 47-member Louisiana Trade Mission traveled to Panama City January 19-22 to promote the state’s trade, transportation, tourism, educational, and other reciprocal interests with Panama. The co-leaders were Michael Olivier, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development; Gary LaGrange, President of the Port of New Orleans; Don Hutchinson, Executive Assistant to the Mayor of New Orleans for Economic Development; and Charles Nelson, WTC President and Chairman of Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., Inc. Included were high-level briefings, meetings, and networking events with leading members of Panama’s business community, government agencies, the Panama Canal Authority, the American Embassy, and the American Chamber of Commerce. For useful contacts and information on Panama, visit the WTC website at www.wtcno.org/panama.