NORTH AMERICAN TRADE CONFERENCE IN MEXICO

The City of New Orleans, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and the World Trade Center are organizing a Louisiana business delegation to attend the Fourth Summit Conference of the North American International Trade Corridor (NAITC) to be held in the historic city of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico on May 15-18. The purpose of the NAITC initiative is to establish a network of communities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to work jointly to promote trade, investment, technology exchange, and economic development on the north-south axis. Current NAITC members from the U.S. include Austin, Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Wichita.

New Orleans Councilman Marlin Gusman; Larry Collins, the Director of International Trade with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development; and WTC Managing Director Eugene Schreiber will lead the delegation from Louisiana to the Querétaro conference. You are invited to join the delegation and take advantage of this special learning, networking, and business development opportunity in Mexico, which is the U.S. and Louisiana’s second largest trading partner. Louisiana participants at the May 15-18 NAITC conference will be able to display their company literature at a special booth sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. For registration details on joining the Louisiana delegation for the conference, call Susannah Coolidge at the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222. For additional information, visit Querétaro’s website at www.naitcpsummit.org and also the World Trade Center’s website at www.wtcno.org/programs.

The City of Querétaro previously donated a renowned Querétaro fountain, which is being placed in the Mississippi River Heritage Park on Convention Center Boulevard. New Orleans and Querétaro celebrated the groundbreaking for the fountain on March 1 with a large delegation of Querétaro musical performers, city officials, and business leaders.

LOUISIANA EXPORT CONFERENCE IN LAFAYETTE APRIL 25-26

The Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC and Le Centre International de Lafayette will hold the 2002 "Louisiana Export Conference" on April 25 and 26 at the Lafayette Hilton. The conference is designed to assist both new and experienced exporters on export strategies, market research, international finance, and transportation and documentation issues relevant to foreign trade.

Conference presenters include: Robert J. Armstrong, President of the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters, Inc.; Mike Spivey, Director of Business Development with Ex-Im Bank in Washington D.C.; Kelly Kemp, Business Development Officer with Ex-Im Bank in Houston; and three Cluster Directors with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development: David Kane, (Logistics/Transportation); David Boulet (Oil & Gas/Energy); and Kelsey Short (Agriculture/Food). Registration begins on Wednesday April 25 at 8:00 a.m. and the conference will end on Friday April 26 at 1:30 p.m. To make hotel reservations, contact the Lafayette Hilton at (337) 235-6111. For more information, call the Louisiana International Trade Center at (504) 568-8222 or Le Centre International de Lafayette at (337) 291-5474.

CONFERENCE ON VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEMS

The Louisiana Technology Council will hold a river business conference on "Vessel Traffic and Automatic Information Systems: A Dynamic Business Opportunity" on Wednesday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Port of New Orleans. The speakers will include: George W. Petras, Training Coordinator, U.S. Coast Guard, Vessel Traffic Service Lower Mississippi River; Captain Douglas J. Grubbs, Member, Crescent River Port Pilots Association; and Joseph G. Cocchiara, Jr., Senior Manager, Port of New Orleans. To register, go online to www.LTC-LA.org.

GERMANY BUSINESS LUNCHEON ON APRIL 24

On Wednesday, April 24, the World Trade Center, Louisiana Department of Economic Development and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon program in the Plimsoll Club on "Outlook on Germany - Europe’s Leading Economy" featuring Dr. Urda Martens-Jeebe, Director of the Office of the Federal Commissioner for Foreign Investment based in Berlin, Germany. The Office of the Federal Commissioner has U.S. representatives in New York, Chicago and Palo Alto and is the primary contact for foreign companies interested in establishing or expanding business operations in Germany. Urda Martens-Jeebe began her career in the private sector with Deutsche BP AG and Lintas Deutschland GmbH, before continuing her professional life in the field of economic development and foreign investment promotion. Prior to her current position as Director of the Office of the Federal Commissioner, Dr. Martens-Jeebe held management positions in economic development corporations in Hamburg and the state of North Rhine-Westfalia. To register for the April 24 luncheon program, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

LOUISIANA TRADE EVENTS

April 10-12 -"Relationship Selling" breakfast seminar series featuring Allen Minster, Performance Solutions, LLC. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

April 17 -"Vessel Traffic and Automatic Information Systems: A Dynamic Business Opportunity" river business conference. Go online to www.LTC-LA.org.

April 19 -Mexico-Louisiana airfreight expansion meeting with Estafeta Airline and Yucatan, Mexico Department of Economic Development. Call (504) 464-2673 or (504) 463-1031.

April 24 -"Outlook on Germany - Europe’s Leading Economy" luncheon briefing featuring Dr. Urda Martens-Jeebe, Director, Office of the Federal Commissioner for Foreign Investment in Germany. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

April 25-26 -2002 Louisiana Export Conference in Lafayette featuring foreign trade experts from across the state. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222 or (337) 291-5474.

April 30 -"Diplomats & Diplomacy in the Age of Terrorism" with Ambassador Charles Gillespie. Call the FRA at (504) 523-2201.

May 2 -"The American Empire of Fun" (part of the American Popular Culture Abroad Series) with Reinhold Wagnleitner. Call the FRA at (504) 523-2201.

WOMEN AND MINORITY TRADE MISSION TO SPAIN AND ITALY

On July 8-15, Maria Cino, Assistant Secretary and Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service, will lead a trade mission for women and/or minority-owned and operated firms to Milan and Rome, Italy and on to Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Finding new export opportunities including joint ventures for U.S. companies in Spain, Italy, and the European Union is the focus of the trip. Delegation members will receive prescreened one-on-one business appointments tailored to their market interest and strategies; market briefings at U.S. Embassies; full logistical support; and participation in Barcelona’s Global Summit of Women 2002. The $3,000 fee includes all costs except travel and lodging. Contact Selina Marquez at (202) 482-4799 or e-mail Trade.Missions@mail.doc.gov. Space is limited.

MEXICO-LOUISIANA AIRFREIGHT EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is hosting a one-on-one business matchmaking meeting with an air cargo trade delegation from Estafeta Airline and the Yucatan, Mexico Department of Economic Development on Friday, April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the World Trade Center of New Orleans. Estafeta is the leading express parcel carrier in Mexico and is currently evaluating the possibilities for direct cargo flights to Mexico and Central America from New Orleans. Companies which currently do business with Mexico by air and make transportation decisions for products, or logistics providers interested in forming partnerships are encouraged to participate. For more details or to make a reservation, call Larry Johnson at (504) 464-2673 or Kathia Duran at (504) 463-1031.

TULANE LATIN AMERICAN LAW INSTITUTE

Tulane Law School will initiate its new Latin American Law Institute on "Energy Law, Free Trade Agreements, and Law Reform in Latin America" on June 26, 27, and 28. The biannual institute established by Tulane Law School and local international law firms is designed to provide a permanent forum to freely discuss legal and business issues pertinent to Latin America and the U.S.

Honorary Chairman of the Latin American Law Institute Senator Mary Landrieu will speak at the June forum. Additional speakers include: Nicaragua President Enrique Bola–os; Ambassador Otto Juan Reich, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; Ambassador Roger Noriega, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS); Dean Taylor, President, Tidewater, Inc.; James L. McCulloch, General Counsel, GlobalSantaFe; José Antonio Ceballos, Chief Operating Officer, PEMEX; Jorge Mas, Chairman of Mastec and of the Cuban American National Foundation; Luis Giusti, Senior Advisor of CSIS and former CEO of Petroleos de Venezuela; José Pardo, General Counsel of Exxon Mobil in Argentina; and Eduardo Javier Solis Sanchez, Ministry of Commerce of Mexico. For more information, call Marian H. Verlander at (504) 865-5928 or e-mail mverlander@law.tulane.edu. Information about the Latin American Law Institute is also available online at www.law.tulane.edu/event.htm.

EXCHANGE STUDENT PROGRAM WITH ARGENTINA

The Foreign Relations Association of New Orleans and the cities of Buenos Aires and Cordoba, Argentina have exchanged students annually for 39 years. In June, American students ages 16 and 17 will travel to Argentina to live with host families for three weeks. Some of these families are long-time participants in this exchange and have previously sent their own daughters and sons to New Orleans. If you are interested in having your child participate or wish to learn more about the program, contact the FRA at (504) 523-2201.

INDUSTRY MARKET REPORTS

Following is a list of various U.S. Commercial Service Industry Market Insight Reports:

Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana - Import Regulations for Used Medical Equipment;

Canada - Atlantic Canada Oil Gas News;

Greece - Needs New Transport/Utility Helicopters;

Jordan - New Policy for Oil Exploration in Jordan;

Singapore - Offshore South East Asia 14th Annual Oil and Gas Tech Exhibit/Conference

For the entire report(s), call the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546, or the Shreveport USEAC at (318) 676-3064.

U.S. GIFTWARE CATALOG SHOW IN AUSTRALIA

The U.S. Department of Commerce is sponsoring a May 7-9 Product Sample and Literature Center at the Giftware, Homeward and Furnishing International Show in Melbourne. For $500, Commerce will display your product(s) samples and literature and collect leads from firms wanting to represent your company. Registration deadline is April 12. Call Ludene Capone, USDOC/Office of Consumer Goods, at (202) 482-2087.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES

The Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels (CSEU) offers a new way to help U.S.-based companies learn about European public procurement contracts. Go online at www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion to use this new program.

This new database features all current public procurement tenders issued by all national and regional public authorities in the 15-member states of the European Union, plus four other European countries, that are open to U.S.-based firms under the terms of the 1995 Government Procurement Agreement. The database is updated weekly, is easy to use, and has a range of different search options, including 19 industry sectors.

U.S. COMMERCE BOOTH AT OFFSHORE TECH CONFERENCE

The U.S. Export Assistance Center/U.S. Department of Commerce will have a booth in the International Visitor's Center at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston on May 6-9. Many Commercial Service staffers from U.S. Embassies in oil producing countries will bring buying delegates. For appointments with visiting Commercial Service reps or foreign buyers looking for U.S. products, e-mail Trade Specialist Pam Plagans (USEAC-Houston) at pam.plagens@mail.doc.gov.

OIL AND GAS EQUIPMENT MARKET IN RUSSIA

Russia, one of the world’s top energy producers, is currently the fifth largest export market for U.S.-made oil and gas field equipment. During the first eleven months of 2001, U.S. exports of oil and gas field machinery to Russia totaled $261 million, an increase of 137 percent from the same period one year ago. High oil prices, which allowed Russian oil companies to put money into new and old oil fields, new pipeline construction and major loans to Russian oil companies from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development account for much of this increase.

According to the U.S. Commercial Service, price is the main obstacle to U.S. exports. Although Russian oil companies often prefer U.S.-made equipment for its high quality and reliability, it is usually much more expensive than domestic equipment. Some U.S. equipment suppliers may find it worthwhile to establish a joint venture and manufacture their equipment in Russia. Since companies producing oil or gas under a production sharing agreement are required to buy 70 percent of their equipment from domestic suppliers, establishing a joint venture with a Russian partner will remove this potential barrier to business.

Because many of Russia’s oilfields have been exploited for decades and are experiencing declines in production, some of the best prospects for exports in this field include oilfield rehabilitation and well workover equipment. There are also a number of new projects in previously undeveloped regions such as the Timan Pechora area in the north, Eastern Siberia and the Far East. The huge oil fields offshore Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East, which are being developed by several international consortia, present enormous opportunities for U.S. Equipment suppliers. The consortia are expected to invest a total of $30-45 billion over the lives of their projects. Investment in energy-related infrastructure such as pipelines, ports and processing facilities is also planned. In March, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Environment and Materials Kevin Murphy led an oil and gas equipment and services trade mission to Sakhalin to introduce U.S. Equipment companies to these opportunities.

Developing opportunities for U.S. companies in Russia’s energy sector is a priority for U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, who led a trade mission that included U.S. energy companies to Russia last fall and has engaged Russian officials a number of times on energy issues. The Commerce Department is working with the Russian government to establish a regular dialogue on commercial energy issues in order to support U.S. investors and exporters.

(The above material is from an article by Rachel Halpern, U.S. Department of Commerce/Energy Division/Trade Development. For more information, visit the International Trade Administration's Office of Energy website at www.export.gov/energy, or contact Rachel Halpern at (202) 482-4423, Email: Rachel_Halpern@ita.doc.gov.)

NEW SAUDI ARABIA DIRECTORIES

Two updated publications, Top 1000 Saudi Companies Directory, and Saudi Arabia Top Exporters and Importers (with product/company info), are available for purchase. Log onto www.iitinfo.net for details. To purchase, contact Mr. Hani Zahran, General Manager of International Information & Trading Services, at iitinfo@dmp.net.sa.

MEXICAN TRUCK ACCESS

The White House and Congress reached an agreement permitting Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways, as required under NAFTA. The compromise imposes stringent safety inspections of all Mexican trucking firms before they are granted temporary authority to drive on U.S. roads. The inspectors must conduct onsite inspections of half of all Mexican trucking firms seeking to operate in the U.S. All Mexican truck drivers hauling hazardous cargo must have their licenses verified electronically at the border. Of all other Mexican truck driver licenses, 50% must also be electronically verified. Truck border crossings will be restricted, and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation will retain the final authority to declare whether an individual Mexican trucking firm does not meet the regulations and is barred from entry. For additional information, call the New Orleans USEAC at (504) 589-6546.

AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION

The U.S. Department of Commerce has established an Afghanistan Reconstruction Team to help U.S. firms participate in Afghanistan-related reconstruction projects. Details on the Team's activities, plus information on business development, financing, and other topics are listed on the Commerce website at www.export.gov (click on "Rebuilding Afghanistan" located at the bottom of the Homepage). For questions, e-mail afghaninfo@ita.doc.gov.

BUYUSA.COM REBATE OFFER

Five Louisiana companies to date have signed up for BuyUSA.com through the World Trade Center and will receive a 50% rebate on the basic subscription cost. BuyUSA.com is 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.  The Louisiana Department of Economic Development will reimburse five additional Louisiana companies half of the registration fee for BuyUSA.com through the WTC’s Affiliate Partner program. 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 reimburse them.