U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE OFFERS 50-PERCENT DISCOUNT IN SEVERAL
   PROGRAM FEES FOR STORM-AFFECTED EXPORTERS

“With 95 percent of the world’s consumers outside of the United States, we must ensure that businesses affected by recent major hurricane disasters can continue selling internationally,” said Israel Hernandez, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director-General of the U.S. Commercial Service. “The Bush Administration is committed to giving these businesses all the tools needed to help them expand their export sales.”

Reduced fees will be provided until all USFCS funds reserved for the program are spent, or until September 30, 2006. For U.S. companies that produce goods or services in U.S.- Declared Hurricane Major Disaster Areas, the USFCS International Partner Search, International Company Profile and Gold Key Service fees will be reduced by 50 percent:

• The Gold Key (GKS) is a matchmaking service provided by all commercial sections of the USFCS at U.S. embassies and consulates in more than 80 countries. It brings together U.S. exporters and potential foreign business partners.
   
• The International Partner Search (IPS) locates qualified foreign distributors and agents and provides listings to the requesting U.S. company.
   
• The International Company Profile (ICP) conducts background checks and provides U.S. firms with information on the good standing of potential foreign business partners.

In addition, the cost of Commercial Service trade missions will be reduced by an amount equal to 50 percent of the aggregate cost of a one-day Gold Key Service (GKS) in each of the mission stops. Companies participating in this program may receive no more than one each of the following at the reduced cost: IPS, ICP, and trade missions. Companies may receive no more than three GKSs at the reduced cost.

With its network of offices across the U.S. and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. In 2005, the U.S. Commercial Service helped generate nearly 12,500 export successes worth billions of dollars in U.S. export sales.

Currently the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated U.S.- Declared Hurricane Major Disaster Areas in parts of six states, including North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana. Visit www.export.gov to find your nearest U.S. Export Assistance Center and link to the FEMA web site. Exporters in Louisiana should contact Donald van de Werken, Director of the New Orleans Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546.

APRIL 11 EXPORT-IMPORT SEMINAR IN MORGAN CITY

Covering the basics of exporting and importing, the program is designed for small and medium-size companies that are interested in getting into the global marketplace. Many companies are finding after Katrina and Rita that they want to rebuild or expand the market base for their goods and services by looking abroad to increase sales, while other firms are interested in sourcing internationally for such products as construction materials. The main topics to be discussed at the workshops are: export marketing and sourcing of imports; logistics and documentation; legal considerations; methods of payment and trade finance; and available resources in Louisiana to assist companies. At the conclusion of the program at 4:00 p.m. the speakers will be available for individual consultations. For workshop details and to register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or click here.

WORKSHOP ON SBA/ EX-IM BANK EXPORT PROGRAMS

The SBA’s Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) supports export financing to small businesses when that financing is not otherwise available on reasonable terms. The program encourages lenders to offer export working capital loans by guaranteeing repayment of up to $1.5 million or 90 percent of a loan amount, whichever is less. Recently, SBA entered into a co-guaranty agreement which would allow SBA to offer EWCP loans up to $2 million with a full 90% guaranty. For smaller financing needs, the SBA has an expedited loan program called Export Express. The maximum loan under Export Express is $250,000. To register for the April 12 workshop, call the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or click here.

EXPOACADIE CONFERENCE IN LAFAYETTE APRIL 27 - 30

ExpoAcadie originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2004 as the business component of the Congrés Mondial Acadien (World Acadian Congress). The second ExpoAcadie on April 27-30 in Lafayette will bring together organizations and businesses from Eastern Canada, primarily New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and Louisiana. Louisiana companies wishing to meet with Canadian business visitors can request the participant list from the International Center and ask to be included in the matchmaking session.

In addition to the April 27 conference, the Lafayette ExpoAcadie will also showcase Canadian products, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick tourism and festival representatives, Acadian entertainers, and other attractions, during Festival International de Louisiane, in a tent dubbed “Place de l’Acadie.” The tent will be located at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in downtown Lafayette on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. The public is welcome to stop by “Place de l’Acadie,” meet the delegation members, and view the products.  For more information, call the International Center at (337) 291-5474.

WTC LUNCHEON SEMINAR ON EXPORT TAXATION ON MAY 5

Congress phased out the benefits of the Extraterritorial Income (ETI), beginning in 2005. However, there are now other options available to help minimize the impact of taxes on export earnings. And for some exporters (and stockholders of exporting companies) the benefits are potentially significant, and even greater than those available under the ETI or the prior FSC and DISC. To register for the May 5 seminar, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or click here.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF NEW ORLEANS EVENTS

April 7 - UNO International Student Organization’s 2006 International Night: “Around the World and Back Again,” 6:30-9:00 p.m., UNO Human Performance Center (for details see www.iso.uno.edu).

April 12 - Great Decisions: Brazil, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Urban Cup Cafe, 4861 Magazine Street (www.urbancupcafe.com). The facilitator will be Dr. Miguel Caldas, Loyola University College of Business Administration.

April 13 - Dining Internationally at Sara’s Restaurant (www.sarasrestaurant.com), 724 Dublin Street.

May 4 - PubNite: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Crystal Lounge, Le Pavillon Hotel, 833 Poydras Street.

For details on these events, visit the WAC/N.O. website at www.wacno.org or call (504)523-2201

SURVEY TO MEASURE IMPACT OF KATRINA ON BUSINESSES

CAPT. LORINO TO RECEIVE BERTEL AWARD ON APRIL 18

Captain Lorino was elected as an Apprentice Pilot by the Associated Branch Pilots in 1973. After serving his apprenticeship he was commissioned as a Pilot in 1978. He served 17 years as a Director of the Associated Branch Pilots, then as Vice President for nine years before being elected to the position of President in 2000. Captain Lorino and his Association continue to work with the maritime industry on moving deep draft vessels. When Hurricane Katrina was headed toward the Gulf, he coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Crescent and Baton Rogue Pilots on moving vessels in and out of the Mississippi River and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet until it was no longer safe for his pilots. After the storm, Captain Lorino immediately shifted to recovery mode. This quick action taken by Captain Lorino and his pilots stopped the downturn in the shipping market and started the region on the road to recovery on the river.

REBUILDING AND LESSONS FROM THE MARSHALL PLAN

The National D-Day Museum, designated by Congress as the country’s official National World War II Museum, is presenting noted scholars and recovery leaders to examine the lessons of the Marshall Plan, the visionary post-WWII program created by then-Secretary of State George C. Marshall which brought Europe from devastation to peace and prosperity. A combination of emergency aid, creative financing, and exchange program, the plan was called a diplomatic and economic triumph. Many have said that a comparable farsighted and comprehensive plan is essential for New Orleans’ recovery. Presentations and panel discussions will be conducted by:

• Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, President and CEO of the Museum
• Dr. Hans-Juergen Schroeder, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Giessen
• Dr. Guenter Bischof, Chairman, University of Orleans Department of History and Director of UNO’s CenterAustria
• Dr. Thomas Schwartz, Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Jeffrey Diefendorf, Professor of History, University of New Hampshire
• Dr. Allan Millett, Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at UNO
• Mr. Stephen Estrata, Acting Director of the U.S. Department of State Diplomacy Center
• Mr. Sean Reilly and Mr. David Voelker, representing the Louisiana Recovery Authority

Although the symposium is free and open to the public, seating is limited and pre-registration is required by April 17. To register, call (504) 527-6012, ext. 260 or email bill.detweiler@ddaymuseum.org 

LOUISIANA TRADE MISSION TO VENEZUELA PETROLEUM SHOW

The Latin American Petroleum Show (LAPS) has been Venezuela’s premier oil and gas show for over 25 years, attracting energy industry decision-makers and executives from around the world and hosting audiences that number in the thousands. LAPS is the ideal venue to learn about Venezuela’s ambitious 2006-2012 $56-billion hydrocarbons investment plan, as well as expand Louisiana’s commercial presence in a market worth close to half a billion dollars every year to U.S. exporters of oil and gas field machinery. For more information, contact Rebekah Robertson with Louisiana Economic Development at (225) 342-4318 or Delilah DeSouza with the New Orleans Export Assistance Center at (504) 915-3301.

INLAND RIVERS PORTS AND TERMINALS CONFERENCE

CAFTA/DR SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN HOUSTON APRIL 20-21

During the two-day event, high-level speakers from Central America, Washington, D.C. and Houston will describe the range of business opportunities that CAFTA/DR offers to U.S. companies. The program includes U.S. commercial officers from American embassies in the region, who will provide companies with pertinent information, as well as representatives from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Eximbank, and the U.S. Trade & Development Agency. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Houston.

For additional information and to register, visit www.houston.org or contact Kristin Culwell at (713) 844-3636 or kculwell@houston.org. Note: Members of the World Trade Center of New Orleans will receive the same registration rate of $175 as members of the Greater Houston Partnership/Houston WTC if they register before April 14, compared to the non-member rate of $350.

GULF STATES WORLD TRADE CONFERENCE IN PENSACOLA

U.S. - COLOMBIA MATCHMAKING IN BOGOTA MAY 15-17