OCTOBER 10 WORKSHOP ON INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

The World Trade Center, Louisiana Economic Development, and other organizations are sponsoring a luncheon seminar at 12:00 Noon on Friday, October 10 at the WTC on "Selling Abroad through Agents and Distributors." The seminar will be conducted by Glenn Stoudt, President of the International Division of Rochester Midland Corporation, a manufacturer of chemical products for industrial maintenance applications. The company operates through sales agents and distributors in more than 35 overseas markets.

The seminar is designed for small-to-medium-size businesses and will cover identifying of suitable international markets, conducting market research, selecting overseas sales agents and distributors, and successfully managing a distribution network. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

SECURITY SPECIALIST TO DISCUSS GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

The World Trade Center and other organizations will hold a luncheon seminar on Wednesday, October 8 at 12:00 noon at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club on "Corporate and Personal Security in the Global Environment" featuring Juan Valadez, a security consultant and retired senior U.S. intelligence officer specializing in international security and counterterrorism. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222.

Juan Valadez is a Senior Consultant with Clayton Consultants Inc., a security services company specializing in corporate and private risk assessment and crisis management worldwide. Mr. Valadez retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1998 as a Senior Intelligence Service Officer after serving 27 years in the Directorate of Operations. During his career, Mr. Valadez interacted extensively with senior officials of U.S. and foreign law enforcement and security agencies, primarily in Latin America, as well as with executives of the private sector.

LUNCHEON BRIEFING ON CAFTA AND THE CARIBBEAN BASIN

The World Trade Center and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon briefing on Friday, October 17 at 12:00 noon at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club on the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entitled "The Outlook for CAFTA: Developing the Caribbean Basin through Trade & Investment." The speaker is Federico Sacasa, Executive Director of Caribbean Latin American Action (CLAA), a well-known non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to promote democracy and private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin.

Federico Sacasa has headed the Executive Director of CCLA since April 2002. From 1988 to 2001, he worked for Bank of America in a variety of senior management positions in San Francisco, London, and Miami. Mr. Sacasa previously worked for Banco de Credito del Peru, Wells Fargo Bank, and Banco Nacional de Nicaragua. To register for the October 17 luncheon, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

WEBSITE AVAILABLE ON FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT

U.S. firms seeking to do business in foreign markets should be familiar with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In general, the FCPA prohibits American companies from making corrupt payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business. It is important to know what falls under the Act’s guidelines, including responsibilities of partners of U.S. companies. For detailed information on this topic, visit the FCPA page of the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States website at www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/fcp1.htm.

INTERNET VOTING BY U.S. CITIZENS ABROAD

U.S. citizens living overseas can take part in a new initiative called SERVE (Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment) that will allow eligible U.S. voters to participate in the 2004 elections from any Windows-based computer with Internet access. Log on to www.serveusa.gov to find out which states are currently taking part in the program, and for frequent updates.

OCTOBER 28 BRIEFING ON HOLLAND AT WTC

On Wednesday, October 28 the World Trade Center, the Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands, and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon briefing at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club at 12:00 noon on "EU Enlargement in 2004 - Holland Gateway" featuring Edgar Kasteel, Vice President of the Holland International Distribution Council; and Michael van der Woude, Area Director for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency.

Topics covered at the briefing will include: an overview of the EU enlargement in 2004; potential impact of the EU enlargement on European supply chain strategies; Holland as the gateway to the European market; and the United States as the largest investor in the Netherlands. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION IN BATON ROUGE

Entertainment, exhibits, food and visitors from around the globe will take center stage at the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs’ "Passport to the World" International Heritage Celebration to be held in and around the Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge on Sunday, October 26.

One of the highlight events is the colorful Parade of Nations. Music, food, dance, storytelling, native dress, flags and educational booths representing over 50 countries provide a rich insight into the multi-cultural makeup of Baton Rouge. One exciting new attractions is the Global Children’s Village - a project of the Baton Rouge Magnet High School’s International Cultural Association. Participants receive free fact-filled Passports to be stamped at each country exhibit. The Passport is free and open to the public and is made possible by hundreds of volunteers eager to share their culture.

In addition, in this bicentennial year of the Louisiana Purchase, Baton Rouge is proud to host its French sister city, Aix-en Provence at the Celebration. A delegation is coming from France eager to learn about Baton Rouge and Louisiana and to enjoy the festivities. "The Celebration will feature a special exhibit from Aix-en-Provence honoring our French connections," said Monika Olivier, president of the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs.

Participants at the event also will have an opportunity to enjoy the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Beaujolais and an impressive array of Muscadet wines presented by the Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins de Nantes from the Loire Valley. For more information, call Monika Olivier at (225) 930-0901.

BUSINESS UPDATE ON IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Iraq Reconstruction Task Force keeps American firms informed on business opportunities in Iraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) currently governing Iraq is now issuing contracts and tenders directly from Iraq. Solicitations are available on the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org/business/index.html. Log on to www.export.gov/iraq for details on Iraq Reconstruction, including a "Business Guide on Iraq" which is updated every two weeks. Call the Task Force at 1-866-352-4727 for more information.

AN "INSIDE LOOK" AT THE NAPOLEON CONTAINER TERMINAL

The Port of New Orleans will host an "Inside Look" at the new Napoleon Container Terminal during a special World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans luncheon on Wednesday, October 15. The luncheon will be held at the Napoleon Container Terminal’s new crane maintenance building. Industry observers are calling the Napoleon Terminal the most technologically advanced container terminal in the world. Set to open this fall, the $101 million complex will utilize transponders, global positioning satellite systems, an AM radio broadcast channel for truckers, weigh-in-motion scales, optical character readers, and digital cameras in its gate operation. The terminal will be operated jointly by Ceres Gulf and P&O Ports of Louisiana.

During the luncheon, Port staff will discuss engineering aspects of the terminal. Representatives of the operating companies have been invited to talk about operational issues. In addition, there will be brief bus tours of the facility beginning at 11:00 a.m. prior to the luncheon. Lunch begins at noon. Please enter the terminal at the Napoleon Avenue gate. The cost of the luncheon is $25.00. To register, call (504) 779-5671 or email colleen@wtcgno.org.

LSUS RECEIVES AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Louisiana State University at Shreveport (LSUS) has received new grants of $42,600 from the Louisiana Board of Regents to expand international studies education. The funding will help establish two new "SMART" classrooms for foreign language and international studies training and develop new academic offerings in Comparative Culture.

One new grant will enable the LSUS International Studies Program to add a new upper-division course highlighting different cultures on a rotating basis, beginning with the European Union and continuing with Africa, Asia and South America. This interdisciplinary Program is a joint offering of the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Business Administration. The other new grant will enhance LSUS facilities for foreign language and international studies training by establishing two "SMART" classrooms, each containing state-of-the-art multimedia instructional systems that provide students with an improved academic experience via the latest advanced technology. The new equipment will benefit about 900 students a year, helping them become better prepared to compete in an increasingly interdependent world.

Virginia Simons Lincove, LSUS Associate Vice Chancellor for Sponsored Research, said the LSUS International Studies faculty team has secured competitive grants totaling more than $253,000 in the past five years to support interdisciplinary curriculum development and advanced technology infrastructure for student training.

VENEZUELA ENFORCES PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTION

As of September 1, all merchandise exported to Venezuela must be inspected at the port of exit. Four verification companies have been authorized to carry out these inspections. There is mandatory information that must be included in the pre-inspection document. For the list of authorized verification firms and detailed information, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 or in Shreveport at (318) 676-3064.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF NEW ORLEANS EVENTS

Thursday, October 9 - "Dining Internationally," Liborio Cuban Restaurant, 321 Magazine Street, $40 WAC/N.O. members, $45 non-members. 6:00 p.m. cashbar, 7 p.m. dinner. Reservations required by calling the WAC office at (504) 523-2201 by noon, October 7.

Monday, October 20 - "Islam and the West," Dr. Muqtedar Khan, co-sponsored with the World Affairs Forum at Tulane University. Rogers Chapel behind Newcomb College, 12:30 p.m. Check the website at www.WorldAffairsForumTulane.com.

Wednesday-Thursday, October 22-23 - "What the U.S. is Doing to Promote Human Rights Democracy Around the World," Rob Jackson, Director, Office for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy, U.S. Department of State. Check the WAC website at www.frawaca.org.

LAGRANGE TO SPEAK AT LAFAYETTE LUNCHEON

Le Centre International is sponsoring a luncheon on Tuesday, October 14 at Don’s Seafood & Steakhouse in downtown Lafayette. The featured speaker will be Gary LaGrange, Executive Director of the Port of New Orleans, whose topic will be, "The Port of New Orleans, Not Just a state of Mind: A State Facilitator." Call (337) 291-5474.

NOVEMBER 6 COMMEMORATION OF JAPAN-U.S. RELATIONS

On November 6, the Japan Society of New Orleans and the Consulate General of Japan will celebrate the Society’s 75th anniversary by hosting a celebration of Commodore Perry’s landing of U.S. Navy ships in the Bay of Tokyo 150 years ago. This momentous event triggered the transformation of Japan from a feudal society into a world power within 50 years. The program will connect one of history’s most significant diplomatic achievements—the opening of Japan—with the prominent contributions to New Orleans and to Louisiana made by two outstanding residents, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, Founder of Biomedical Technology, and Lafcadio Hearn, newspaper writer, author of several books on New Orleans, and literacy icon in Japan for being the first to interpret East to West and West to East.

Minister Naoyuki Agawa, Minister for Public Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., will focus on the key Japanese and Americans who have shaped the Japan-U.S. partnership. "150 Years of Japan-U.S. Relations: Rediscovery of America by the Japanese" will start at 7:00 p.m. at the Port of New Orleans. The event is free and open to the public.

LAGCOE 2003: OCTOBER 28-30 OIL EXPOSITION IN LAFAYETTE

The Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE) will be held in Lafayette October 28-30. This is the 25th anniversary of the biennial oil and gas show, the second largest of its kind in the U.S., and it is shaping up to be a truly international event. Designated to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program, the show has been promoted worldwide in all oil and gas regions.

Delegations from Nigeria, UAE, South Africa, Canada and Colombia are scheduled to attend in an organized group with the U.S. Foreign Commercial Officers from the respective countries. Other interested industry business people from Venezuela, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Trinidad, Suriname, Russia and Ecuado are registering individually. Foreign Commercial Officers from Venezuela, Mexico, Azerbaijan and Sakhalin Island, Russia, as well as the Angolan Trade Representative, will also be in attendance at the show to promote business in their regions and counsel U.S. companies.

An International Business Center at the show, organized by the International Trade Center of Lafayette (Le Centre International), Louisiana Economic Development, the New Orleans Export Assistance Center, and the Center for Business and Information Technologies (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) will offer meeting rooms, a lounge area and full business services. The IBC will be staffed by International Trade Specialists from the City of Lafayette, the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Department of Commerce. An "International Reception", on the evening of October 28 hosted by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the State of Louisiana, and the City of Lafayette will recognize all international visitors and give them a "taste" of south Louisiana hospitality, Cajun style.

Three International Workshops will take place during the LAGCOE show in the Evangeline room of the Cajun Dome. For details and to register, call Le Centre International at (337) 291-5474 or visit www.lagcoe.com.

EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS

The city of Turin, Italy will host the XX Olympic Winter Games on February 10-26, 2006, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games on March 10-19. Many opportunities to supply products or services in preparation for or during the games are available to U.S. firms.

While two separate organizations are involved in organizing the XX Winter Games, the Turin Olympics Organizing Committee (TOROC) and Agenzia Torina 2006, the U.S. Commercial Service in Italy is committed to helping U.S. companies pursue export possibilities related to these Olympics. While many contracts for Olympics-related projects will be awarded to Italian companies, U.S. companies can participate as partner, investors, or suppliers in the major infrastructure projects of the games. Construction and investment in northwestern Italy over the next four years could present many opportunities for U.S. companies.

The Internet is the main point of contact for tenders from both TOROC and Agenzia Torino 2006. Interested firms are encouraged to periodically check the English language (www.torino2006.org/eng/toroc_193.htm) and Italian language (www.torino206.org/ita/toroc_173.htm) versions of the "agreements negotiations" page of the TOROC web site. The site for Agenzia Torino 2006 (www.agenziatorino2006.it) is updated every Monday and lists all tenders, including those for which bids have already been successfully submitted.

Note: The above information comes from an "Export America" article by Federico Bevini, U.S. Commercial Service in Italy. For a copy of the entire article call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 or in Shreveport at (318) 676-3064.

MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a nationwide network of nonprofit centers in over 400 locations nationwide, whose sole purpose is to provide small-and medium-size manufacturers with the help they need to succeed. The centers are funded by federal, state, local and private resources, and are linked through the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Each center works directly with area manufacturers to provide expertise and services tailored to their most critical needs, ranging from process improvements and worker training to business practices and applications of information technology. Visit http://www.mep.nist.gov/ to learn more.

HOT TRADE LEAD FOR LOUISIANA EXPORTERS

The Office of Machinery in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Trade Development has a good trade lead for U.S. manufacturers or sellers of machinery and equipment for shipyard repair and maintenance. The American-Hellenic Investment and Management Company of New Jersey has a contract in Tunisia and is interested in purchasing U.S. machinery and equipment for boiler workshops, electricity workshops, dry-docking and surface treatment, and lifting and handling equipment. The total amount of purchases could be as high as $10 million. Interested companies should contact Suleiman (Sully) Bengharsa at (202)482-0552 or e-mail Suleiman_Bengharsa@ita.doc.gov