INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCHEON ON MARCH 8

The World Trade Center and other organizations will hold a special luncheon program on "The Role of Women in International Affairs" at 12:00 Noon on Friday, March 8 in the WTC’s Plimsoll Club. In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the luncheon will feature Her Excellency Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States.

International Women’s Day is celebrated by women’s groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. International Women’s Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men.

Mrs. Kozakou-Marcoullis has served as Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. since 1998. She is currently also accredited as High Commissioner to Canada, Guyana and Jamaica and Ambassador to Brazil. Her previous assignments included Ambassador of Cyprus to Sweden, with concurrent accreditation to Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; member of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations; Consul of Cyprus in New York; and Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus.

To register for the March 8 luncheon, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

MARCH 19 LUNCHEON SEMINAR FOCUSES ON NIS COUNTRIES

Speakers from three former Soviet Union Republics will speak at a World Trade Center luncheon seminar in New Orleans on Tuesday, March 19.

The 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. program is entitled "Business Opportunities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia (Sakhalin Island and the Tomsk Region)." The principal sponsor of the seminar is BISNIS, the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Following the luncheon program, one-on-one meetings for the registrants will be held with the speakers. For details, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

The energy rich areas of the former Soviet Union offer a wide range of trade and investment opportunities for Louisiana companies. Best prospects include: Oil and gas equipment and services; construction machinery and equipment; pollution control equipment; telecommunications equipment; agricultural equipment; food processing and packaging equipment; food products and fertilizers; medical equipment; drugs and pharmaceuticals; and security and safety equipment.

Detailed economic/commercial reports on Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Sakhalin Island, and the Tomsk region of Russian are available on the Internet at www.bisnis.doc.gov.

MARCH 21 SEMINAR ON U.S. EXPORT REGULATIONS

Eight international trade specialists from five key U.S. government agencies will hold a comprehensive one-day "U.S. Export Regulations Seminar" at the World Trade Center in New Orleans on Thursday, March 21. The program is designed to inform exporters, freight forwarders, customhouse brokers, carriers, bankers, attorneys, and others involved in the export process about U.S. export regulations and requirements. The Louisiana sponsors of the seminar are the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and the World Trade Center.

The speakers at the seminar represent the following U.S. government agencies: the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce; the Bureau of Export Administration of the Commerce Department; the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury; the Office of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Department of State; and the Outbound Enforcement Team, U.S. Customs Service.

The seminar topics and speakers are listed below. For additional information, call the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271 or 222, or click here.

BRAZIL-LOUISIANA BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON MARCH 22

His Excellency Rubens Barbosa, the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States; Pedro Parente, Head of the Energy Crisis Management Committee and Chief of Staff to President Fernando Henrique Cardoso; and Bill Richardson, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, will be the featured speakers at a "Brazil-Louisiana Business Conference" on Friday, March 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the World Trade Center’s Plimsoll Club in New Orleans. The event is part of a series organized by the Embassy of Brazil and the Brazil-U.S. Business Council aimed at raising the profile of Brazil-U.S. bilateral trade and investment opportunities in key U.S. states with strong business ties to Brazil. New Orleans is the first site for this year’s conference series. In addition to the speakers noted above, a panel of executives will discuss their companies’ experiences on doing business in Brazil. To register for the March 22 seminar, call the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271,  or click here.

LOUISIANA TRADE EVENTS

Mar. 8 -"International Women’s Day" Luncheon Program featuring Amb. Erato-Kozakou-Marcoulis, the Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S., speaking on "The Role of Women in International Affairs," at 12:00 noon. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Mar. 14 -Bertel Award Luncheon honoring Mr. Walter Boasso. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Mar. 15 -Euro Luncheon Program at the WTC, 12:00 noon. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Mar. 19 -Luncheon Program on Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, at the WTC at 12:00 noon. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222.

Mar. 20, 25 & 27 -"Export and Import" seminars by the Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC, University of New Orleans, 3:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m. at the World Trade Center. Call (504) 568-8222 for fees and information.

Mar. 21 -All-day Seminar on U.S. Export Regulations. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222.

Mar. 22 -Brazil-Louisiana Business Conference, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

PAL TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 3-5 IN BATON ROUGE

The Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL) will hold its 19th annual meeting on April 3-5 at the Sheraton Downtown in Baton Rouge. The theme of this year’s annual meeting is "Louisiana Ports Deliver." The agenda includes sessions on Effective Leadership and the Roles of Responsibilities of Board Members and Staff; the Role of Ethics in Government; the Advantages of Container-on-Barge Operations; Federal and State Updates; Attitude Adjustment; and a Legislative Briefing and Meetings at the State Capitol. For additional details, call PAL at (225) 334-9040 or visit their website at www.portsoflouisiana.org.

MEDICAL TRADE EVENTS

Join the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Medical Device Trade Mission to Central Europe on May 13-21 and attend pre-screened one-on-one meetings designed just for your firm. Matchmaker appointments will be held in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

The 7th Southeast Asian Healthcare Show and Conference will be held on May 16-18 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Medical and healthcare products are a "best products" industry in Malaysia. You can participate either as an exhibitor, or by sending your product literature for display in the U.S. Pavilion catalog show.

Expo Medica Hospital has become the largest medical show in Mexico. The 13th annual show will be held on May 22-24 in the new complex at the "Hipodromo de las Americas" in Mexico City. The organizers have decided to hold a separate Expo Medica Hospital on November 6-8 at the Cintermex in Monterrey to offer companies an opportunity to reach distributors and clients in northern Mexico.

If you are interested in the Chinese medical market, sign up for the Medical Devices Trade Mission to China (Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong) on September 15-24. Hospitals in China enjoy a high degree of purchasing power and are keen to buy high-quality and technologically advanced products from U.S. manufacturers. The U.S. currently exports over $500 million worth of medical devices yearly to China and Hong Kong.

For details on any of the above events, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 or in Shreveport at (318) 676-3064.

LOUISIANA TRADE MISSION TO SPAIN GEARING UP

Le Centre International de Lafayette, in conjunction with the World Trade Center of New Orleans, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and various other international trade organizations, is currently seeking Louisiana companies to participate in a trade mission to Spain which will visit Madrid, Toledo, Badalona and Barcelona, May 15-23. Companies in all sectors of activity are welcome. Business meetings will be pre-arranged for all participants by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Catalonia Regional trade office.

In addition, companies in the environmental sector will have the opportunity to attend the International Business Exchange, which will conduct an Environmental Symposium in Badalona-Barcelona on May 21-23. The third day will be devoted to pre-scheduled individual business meetings. Several tours will also be scheduled during the trip and a "spouse program" will be offered. For an information packet, call Le Centre International at (337) 291-5474 or e-mail Spain@lecentre.org. This very reasonably priced mission promises to fill up rapidly, so don’t delay!

HALF-PRICE OFFER FOR BUYUSA.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS

The World Trade Center of New Orleans has become an Affiliate Partner of BuyUSA.com, an international electronic marketplace created by the U.S. Commercial Service and IBM. This service provides U.S. companies with instant access to qualified foreign distributors, buyers, and sales leads, and also allows participating companies to post business opportunities online and generate publicity at promotional events worldwide. BuyUSA.com also offers an "Enhanced Catalogs" service for subscribing U.S. companies to transform their printed product materials into online, searchable catalogs, complete with a unique URL and the company’s own branding and logos.  The Louisiana Department of Economic Development will reimburse the first 10 Louisiana companies half of the registration fee to subscribe to BuyUSA.com through the WTC’s Affiliate Partner program.  Louisiana companies subscribing to BuyUSA.com should contact the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, to determine if they were among the first 10 companies to sign up, in which case the WTC will arrange for their reimbursement.

BELGIUM (WALLONIA) OFFICIAL TO SPEAK ON MARCH 15

The Europe-Louisiana Business Council, the World Trade Center of New Orleans, and other organizations are sponsoring a luncheon program on Friday, March 15 in the Plimsoll Club on "Europe and the Euro: New Opportunities for Louisiana Businesses." The speaker will be the Honorable Philippe Suinen, General Commissioner of International Relations of the French Community of Belgium (Wallonia). Mr. Suinen is also the General Manager of the Walloon Export Agency.

Mr. Suinen’s distinguished career in government began in 1974 in the Department of Foreign Affairs, managing relations with Belgium’s former colonies in Africa. In 1977, he moved to the federal government and was involved in political reform and education. In 1985 he was appointed Director General of the Foreign Relations Division, Ministry of the Walloon Region. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Suinen was Chef de Cabinet to the Minister of Foreign Trade and European Affairs and Chef de Cabinet to the Deputy Prime Minister. He resumed his International Relations position in 1998. Mr. Suinen holds a law degree from the University of Li�ge (Belgium) and a degree in European law from the University of Nancy (France).

Mr. Suinen will be in Louisiana for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the teaching of French in Louisiana by teachers from the French community of Belgium (Wallonia)

To register for the luncheon briefing, please call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF LANGUAGE TEACHING

The Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge will be the venue for a reception on Friday, March 15 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the teaching of French in Louisiana by teachers from the French community of Belgium (Wallonia). Sponsoring organizations for the reception are Fondation CODOFIL, the Permanent Representative of the French Community of Belgium (Mme. Eliane Levaque), the Europe-Louisiana Business Council, the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs, Le Centre International de Lafayette, and CODOFIL. The chief guest will be the Honorable Philippe Suinen, General Commissioner, International Relations, French Community of Belgium.

The French Community of Belgium has made an enormous contribution to the development of French in Louisiana by supporting 60 to 80 teachers a year giving instruction in French in our schools. Over 25 years, the number of teachers who have worked in Louisiana exceeds one thousand. Wallonia has been an important partner, along with France, to upgrade the language capabilities of Louisiana children.

The Wallonia delegation is providing Belgian chocolates, beer and cheese for the guests at the March 15 reception, which is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All francophones and Francophiles, and anyone interested in Europe and international relations and international trade and investment, are cordially invited to attend the 25th anniversary celebration at the Old State Capitol. For further information, contact Dave Domingue at Le Centre International de Lafayette (337) 291-5492 or Ken Scott at the French-American Chamber of Commerce (504) 561-0070.

TWO PUBLICATIONS ON TRADE WITH SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with 48 countries and 643 million people, accounts for nearly 10 percent of the world’s population and is the largest regional block both in the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. U.S. exports contribute significantly to building, developing and modernizing Sub-Saharan Africa’s infrastructure. Principal U.S. exports include the following product categories: aircraft and parts; oil and gas field equipment; motor vehicles and parts; industrial chemicals; computers and peripherals; construction machinery and parts; telecommunications equipment; and agricultural machinery.

For an eight-page report that includes information on the African Growth and Opportunity Act and best prospects for U.S. exports to Southern Africa, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546, or the Shreveport USEAC at (318) 676-3064.

Additionally, a new publication, "Africa: Financial Sectors—A Guide to the Financial Infrastructure of Sub-Saharan Africa," is for sale by the Superintendent of Documents/U.S. Government Printing Office. To order a copy, call (202) 512-1800, or go online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. The stock number is 003-009-00724-1.

VALUE-ADDED TAX REFUNDS

U.S. firms may be entitled to a refund on the value-added tax (VAT) they paid on their sales and marketing expenditures in foreign markets. VAT refunds are available from European Union nations, Canada, South Korea, and several other countries. The rules for submitting claims vary by country and are time-consuming, so companies often use recovery service agencies to handle the claims process. You only pay the agency a fee if they obtain a VAT refund for you. For information on recovery service companies and other VAT resources, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546. (Note: the contacts are provided as a courtesy only, not as a USEAC endorsement of any recovery service agency.)

THOMAS MANTIS NAMED HONORARY CONSUL OF CYPRUS

Mr. Thomas Mantis has been named Honorary Consul General of Cyprus in New Orleans. He is the President of Poseidon International Marine. Mr. Mantis can be reached at (504) 568-9300. His office is located at the World Trade Center, Suite 2146.

TAP THE CANADIAN MARKET AT REPCAN TRADE EVENTS

RepCan is a U.S. Department of Commerce-sponsored trade event held annually in Canada. This year, RepCan will be held in Vancouver on April 15-16; in Toronto on June 18-19; and in Montreal on September 19-20.

RepCan is open to all industry sectors and includes:

• Two-days of screened matchmaker business appointments based on your objectives (agent/distributor, joint venture, strategic partner, or exploring the market);

• A seminar on "Selling to Canada";

• Extensive countrywide promotion for your products and services;

• Networking opportunities with Canadian business and government contacts;

• Listings in RepCan directories;

• Meeting and display facilities, with set-up and logistical support.

The participation fee is $1,000 in Vancouver, $1,200 in Toronto, and $1,000 in Montreal. These prices do not include travel, meals, or lodging costs. Products and services must be at least 51 percent U.S. content by value.

For additional information, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 or Shreveport at (318) 676-3064 for more info.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR POW WOW TRAVEL SHOW

New Orleans and Louisiana are excited to be hosting POW WOW from May 25 to 30. This is the premier travel trade show for the international tourism market and it will take everyone’s hard work and smiling faces to make it a success! Volunteers are needed to meet and greet at the airport, staff hotel hospitality desks, and carry out many other functions. Foreign language capabilities are also in high demand. To sign up for this exciting event, please log on to www.neworleanscvb.com/powwowvolunteer or call Lisa Ponce de Leon, Director, Louisiana Tax Free Shopping, at (504) 568-5593.

WALTER BOASSO TO RECEIVE C. ALVIN BERTEL AWARD

On Thursday, March 14, Walter Boasso, Chief Executive Officer of Boasso America Corp., will be the honored recipient of the C. Alvin Bertel Award at a luncheon at the Plimsoll Club for his outstanding contributions to the World Trade Center’s advancement of the Greater New Orleans port area.

Mr. Boasso founded Gulf States marine Terminal, Inc. in 1985 after recognizing the need for full-service tank container cleaning, repair, and storage at the Port of New Orleans. The Boasso America Corporation now provides a range of diversified transportation and ancillary services, and employs nearly 340 people in its operating subsidiaries: BoaAm, Inc.; Boasso International, Inc.; Gulf States Intermodal, Inc., and Gulf States marine Terminal, Inc. Mr. Boasso is a member and past Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, as well as a member of the WTC Board of Directors, among other civic positions he holds. To register for the March 14 luncheon, call (504) 529-1601, ext. 227 or click here.

CONFERENCE ON BOLIVIA AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

Scholars will gather from around the world to participate in the first International Conference of the Bolivian Studies Association to be held at Loyola University, in New Orleans on March 14-16.

Among the scholars will be Bolivia’s best known writers: Edmundo Paz-Sold‡n, Eduardo Mitre, Claudio Ferrufino, and Nestor Taboada Ter‡n. They will read from their works on March 15 at a session scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Loyola’s Danna Center. The well known anthropologist-historian Xavier Alb— S.J., will lecture on three contemporary Bolivian Indian political figures on March 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Tulane University’s Jones Hall. Other participants will present papers on Bolivian history, politics, government, education and literature.

Music and dance groups will perform Thursday evening, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. during the reception for the conference in the Danna Center Lobby at Loyola. All conference sessions and the reception are open to the public for a small registration fee. The other events listed above, including the readings by Bolivian writers and the lecture by Father Alb— are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Josefa Salm—n at (504) 865-2692 or [salmon@loyno.edu] or visit the web site at http://www.bolivianstudies.org/.

PRODUCT LIABILITY ON EXPORTS TO THE EU

Many exporters may not be aware of the European Union (EU) "Product Liability Directive" which calls upon EU nations to impose strict liability on manufacturers of defective products, including products imported into the EU that cause damage to individuals or private property. This Directive applies only to products, not to services. (Note: The Product Liability Directive is separate from the Product Warranty Directive described in the January edition of this newsletter.)

For a copy of "A Guide to the EU Directive Concerning Liability for Defective Products (Product Liability Directive)," call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 or in Shreveport at (318) 676-3064.

METRIC LABELING ON U.S. EXPORTS

When the European Union (EU) goes to a metric-only market on January 1, 2010, product labels with inches, pounds, or any other non-metric measurement may no longer be exported to the EU.

Last year, Korea began requiring that measurements be expressed only in metrics. Japan already requires that all imported products and shipping documents show metric units. In the Philippines, only metric units may be used to measure any product, commodity, material, or utility. Metric is the only system that can be used in the Philippines in any commercial transaction, contract and other legal instrument, or other official document.

The metric system is increasingly becoming the standard in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Jamaica. Chile requires that all labels contain, in Spanish, the size and weight converted to the metric system. Goods not complying with these measurements may be imported, but not sold to consumers until the conversion is made. Costa Rican law mandates exclusive use of metrics. In Brazil, product labels should have a Portuguese translation and use metric units or show a metric equivalent.

African countries have similar metric rules. Mauritius and Eritrea require metric weights and measures, and Cameroon recommends French and English labeling, with all measurements listed in metric. Metric is required on all bills of lading on exports to South Africa. Products entering Nigeria must be labeled only in metric terms; dual or multi-marking items will be confiscated or refused entry.

The Trade Information Center (TIC), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides information about country labeling requirements. For more info, contact the TIC at 1-800-USA-TRADE, email tic@ita.doc.gov, or visit the website at http://tradeinfo.doc.gov.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes a comprehensive guide to the European standards and regulatory committees that directly affect doing business in the EU and its associated countries. The guide is available on the Internet at www.nist.gov/metric. NIST provides Export Alert!, a free Internet service that automatically notifies businesses when foreign governments propose changes to labeling, metric and other standards that might influence the treatment of U.S. exports. To subscribe to this no-cost service, sign up online at http://ts.nist.gov/ncsci.

PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS VIA JAPAN WEBSITE

The U.S. Commercial Service in Japan is offering U.S. companies its new Japanese language "Web Posting Platinum Key Service" and e-mail newsletter. The website receives over one million hits per year, and the newsletter has a subscriber list of over 5,000 Japanese importers, distributors, wholesalers, and agents looking for opportunities to work with U.S. companies. The web posting service includes your company and product information (translated into Japanese by the U.S. Commercial Service Japan), a feature article in the e-mail newsletter, trade leads forwarded directly to you, Japanese language marketing material, and much more. Visit www.csjapan.doc.gov for more information.

PATRICIA MOLINA NAMED EL SALVADOR HONORARY CONSUL

Ms. Patricia Elena Molina has been named Honorary Consul of El Salvador in New Orleans. She can be reached at (504) 568-6187.

INDUSTRY MARKET REPORTS

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

China - Shanghai Opens a Complaint Center for Foreigners

Canada - Global Petroleum Show 2002, Trade Promotion

Opportunity

Canada - Home Renovation Market is Bullish

Mexico - Guadalajara Trade Shows for 2002

Saudi Arabia - Shooting and Hunting Equipment, U.S.

Export Opportunities

South Africa - Opportunity for U.S. Valve Manufacturers

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Louisiana International Trade Center (a department of the University if New Orleans’ College of Business) is looking for a part-time Assistant Director. The LITC office is located in the World Trade Center in downtown New Orleans. Qualified candidates should have a B.A. degree in business administration, or related experience, with emphasis on Accounting/Budgeting, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, Front Page), and network administration. This is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual office that stresses personal contact with the diverse community it serves. Please fax resumes to (504) 568-8228. UNO is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.