MARCH 31 EXPORT ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement will present its Business Executive Enforcement Team (BEET) workshop on Friday, March 31 at the World Trade Center of New Orleans, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

From its inception in 1991, the BEET has become the forum for industry executives to stay current with the latest hands-on export enforcement topics. More than 3,000 business executives have participated in this program, taking advantage of the unique opportunity to present their concerns and communicate directly with senior U.S. law enforcement officials and to learn about new and on-going enforcement initiatives. As Export Enforcement reshapes its mission to reflect enhanced controls on weapons technologies, interaction with senior corporate officers of industry affected by these controls is welcome.

The agenda for the March 31 workshop includes presentations by officials from the Office of Export Enforcement, the Office of Antiboycott Compliance, the U.S. Attorney s Office, the Office of Foreign Trade of the Bureau of the Census, and the U.S. Customs Service. The cost of the workshop is $25 and includes a Continental breakfast, free validated parking in the WTC Garage, and all conference materials.

For more information about the March 31 workshop, call the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 254, or Wadene Musgrave at the Office of Export Enforcement in Dallas at (214) 767-9294. You can also visit the Office of Export Enforcement at www.bxa.doc.gov/enforcement/.

IDB ANNUAL MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS

The Inter-American Development Bank will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans on March 23-29 to discuss lending programs that are helping Latin America and Caribbean nations improve education, economic growth, and macroeconomic stability. The IDB is the leading source of multilateral development financing for the region, with last years loans totaling $9.5 billion. The New Orleans forum is expected to attract more than 6,000 bankers, corporate leaders, development officials and journalists, in addition to the official delegations of the IDB s 46 member countries. The plenary sessions will be preceded by 11 official seminars on key development issues.

In addition, the City of New Orleans, in coordination with the IDB, has created Technology Village as an educational exchange and venue in the Morial Convention Center for exhibitors to showcase their goods, services, and technologies on the following topics: developing a new economy in Latin America; boosting education; creating a digital democracy; confronting natural disasters; enhancing finance and investment; and advancing health care.

For details on the IDB meeting and booth space at the Technology Village, call (504) 565-7230 or 523-2121, or visit the IDB website at www.idb2000.org.

MEXICAN AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK AT WTC ON MARCH 27

His Excellency Jesús F. Reyes-Heroles, the Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, will be the featured speaker at a luncheon in his honor at the World Trade Centers Plimsoll Club in New Orleans on Monday, March 27. The topic of his address will be Mexico: Economic and Political Challenges for the Year 2000.

Amb. Reyes-Heroles has had a distinguished career as an economics professor and government official. From 1983-1988, Mr. Reyes-Heroles served as the Director General for Financial Planning at the Ministry of Finance, and from 1988 to 1990 he served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 1991-1994, he headed up his own consulting firm. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S., he served as Mexicos Minister of Energy. In that capacity, he served as President of the Board of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). To register for the March 27 luncheon, click , or call (504) 529-1601, ext. 254 or 222.

MARCH 23 BRIEFING ON LATIN AMERICA

A top Bank One specialist on Latin America will conduct a luncheon briefing in New Orleans on Thursday, March 23 on The Economic Outlook for Latin America and Its Oil and Gas Sector. The speaker, Nadine Aboud Rihani, is Vice President and Regional Head of the Americas in Bank One s International and Country Risk Policy Department in Chicago. The luncheon will be held at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center starting at 12:00 noon (11:30 a.m. networking reception). Ms. Rihani has been with the bank (formerly First Chicago) for nine years and had previous experience in the area of the Trading Products Group in Financial Reporting.

For additional information and to register for the March 23 luncheon, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 227, or click .

CALENDAR OF LOUISIANA EVENTS

March 9 -Import/Export Strategies and Market Research seminar organized by the Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC from 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in Hammond. Call SLU at (504) 549-3831.

March 13 -Pricing, Terms, Quotations and Customs Entry Procedures seminar from 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in Hammond. Call SLU at (504) 549-3831.

March 15 -Coffee & Conversation with the Hon. George Dogoritis, Consul General of Greece, discussing Greece in the Twenty-First Century at St. Charles Avenue Christian Church, 6200 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, 10:30 a.m. 12:00 noon, free. Sponsored by the Foreign Relations Association.

March 15 - International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation seminar organized by the LITC/ SBDC from 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in Hammond. Call SLU at (504) 549-3831.

March 22 -WTC s Thomas F. Cunningham Award will be presented to Dr. Eamon Kelly, President Emeritus of Tulane University at a luncheon program at the WTCs Plimsoll Club in New Orleans. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or 254.

March 23 - The Economic Outlook for Latin America and its Oil and Gas Sector, a luncheon briefing at the WTC by Nadine Aboud Rihani, VP and Regional Head of the Americas, International and Country Risk Department, Bank One, Chicago. Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 254.

March 23 -Foreign Relations Association dinner at the Plimsoll Club with speaker Marvin Perrett, World War II Higgins boat pilot. Cash bar at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m. Call the FRA at (504) 523-2201 for reservations.

Mar. 23-29 -Annual Meting of the Inter-American Development Bank. Call (504) 565-7230.

Mar. 25-26 -Annual Meeting of the Latin American Research Consortium, Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business, free admission, call Sharon Moore at (504) 865-5667.

March 27 -- - Mexico: Economic and Political Challenges for the Year 2000, a luncheon program at the WTC s Plimsoll Club in New Orleans featuring His Excellency Jess F. Reyes-Heroles, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 254 or 222.

March 31 -Business Executive Enforcement Team (BEET) Workshop from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the WTC in New Orleans. Call (504) 529-1601, ext. 254, or visit the Office of Export Enforcements website at www.bxa.doc.gov/enforcement/.

HONG KONG TRADE OFFICIAL TO SPEAK AT APRIL 4 BREAKFAST

Mr. James Yuen, Director of the Chicago Office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), will conduct a breakfast briefing on China and Hong Kong: Business Opportunities in the New Millennium on Tuesday, April 4 at the World Trade Center in New Orleans. Mr. Yuen began his career with the TDC in 1980 and has held numerous trade promotion positions in Hong Kong and abroad. As Director of the Chicago Office since 1989, he is the Regional Head of the Council for 19 mid-western states. To register for the April 4 breakfast meeting, click , or call (504) 529-1601, ext. 254 or 222.

CATALOG SHOWS IN LATIN AMERICA

The Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service invite Louisiana companies to take advantage of the Growth Industries 2000 catalog show presented in the cities of Caracas, Venezuela; Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; and Cordoba, Argentina on June 12-23. Follow-on exhibits will to be held in Asuncion, Paraguay; Panama City, Panama; and La Paz, Bolivia during June. Your catalogs or brochures will be exhibited at each site and distributed to companies interested in your products. Trade leads are brought back to you for follow-up after the event. A participation fee of $100 is used to cover the shipping costs to the seven show sites. Call Tiffany Landry with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development at (504) 589-6730. Please note that the registration deadline is March 15, so call today!

U. S. COMMERCE DEPT. NEWS

Call Jo Daugherty at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 for more information on the following programs:

Expo-Medica Hospital 2000: This event is the premier venue to market your medical products and services to the Mexican medical, clinical and hospital industry; June 7-9 at the World Trade Center in Mexico City.

Information Technology (IT) Trade Mission to Poland on June 11-17; IT Trade Mission to Taiwan and South Korea on June 11-17. Prescreened and targeted business meetings arranged by the U.S. Embassies.

The April edition of Commercial News USA (a U.S. Commerce publication distributed worldwide) will feature hotel and restaurant equipment, medical and scientific products, and electrical equipment. The May edition will feature automotive, aviation and marine, building construction and hardware, and environmental products.

ProPak China 2000: China s leading trade show/conference for packaging and processing machinery and equipment May 24-27 at the Shanghaimart in Shanghai.

Water Asia 2000: Indias leading trade show/conference for water and waste management (focusing on water resource management, waste-water treatment, water treatment chemicals, and corrosion inhibitors); September 17-19 at the Pragatti Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi.

JOHN LABORDE TO RECEIVE C. ALVIN BERTEL AWARD

On Friday, April 7, John P. Laborde, Chairman Emeritus of Tidewater Inc., will be the honored recipient of the C. Alvin Bertel Award at a luncheon at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Greater New Orleans port area. To register for the luncheon, click , or call (504) 529-1601, ext. 222. Free parking for is available at the WTC garage.

The Bertel Award was established in 1967. It is named after C. Alvin Bertel, who became the prime mover in the early 1940 s in bringing about a constitutional amendment which provided for the non-political selection of port commissioners. In its early years the newly formed Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans instituted administrative reforms which have endured to this day.

The Selection Committee for the Bertel Award is comprised of the presidents of the Port of New Orleans; New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce; City of New Orleans; International Freight Forwarders and Custom Brokers Association; Jefferson Parish Council; New Orleans Board of Trade; Steamship Association of Louisiana; Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District; Port of South Louisiana; St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District; and the WTC.

OPPORTUNITIES IN BRAZILS OIL AND GAS SECTOR

Petrobras, the Brazilian national petroleum company, has an urgent need for U.S. suppliers of specialized environmental control equipment, products, and consulting services, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1999, Petrobras purchased 45 percent of its nearly $1 billion total equipment purchases directly from registered suppliers, both foreign and domestic. U.S.- origin equipment constituted 75 percent of the total. Major types of equipment by volume include flexible piping, rigid steel tubing, petrochemicals, and Christmas trees (specialized for the oil industry). All equipment procured by Petrobras must be ISO 9000-certified. Louisiana companies are encouraged to contract a Brazilian representative to bid on Petrobras procurements; for this purpose, you may want to contact the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546 for information on its Agent Distributor Service. Also, visit www.focusbrazil.or.br for additional information on Petrobras procurements.

EAMON KELLY TO RECEIVE CUNNINGHAM AWARD

The World Trade Center has selected Eamon M. Kelly, President Emeritus of Tulane University, as the recipient of the WTCs Thomas F. Cunningham Award for his outstanding service toward better social and cultural understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the Western Hemisphere. Dr. Kelly will be honored at a luncheon at the Plimsoll Club on Wednesday, March 22.

To register for the luncheon, click  or call (504) 529-1601, ext. 222. Free parking for the event is available at the WTC garage.

EX-IM BANK SEMINAR IN HOUSTON ON MARCH 13-14

The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. will conduct a two-day Ex-Im Bank Training Seminar on March 13 and 14 at the Westin Oaks in Houston.

During the seminar, participants will learn about:

- Ex-Im Bank and the Small Business Administrations program to support pre-export working capital financing.

- Ex-Im Banks export credit insurance policies that afford commercial/political risks protection on credit sales to foreign customers, and how these programs facilitate accounts receivable financing

- Ex-Im Banks Medium-Term Export Credit Insurance and Guarantee programs that support the financing of capital equipment exports.

- Special Ex-Im Bank programs targeted at environmental exports, service exports, lease transactions, and enhancements for small businesses.

- Lender certification for completing Priority Lender/Delegated Authority Lender training.

For details about the Ex-Im seminar, call Pat Foley at the Greater Houston Partnership at (713) 844-3637.

OPPENHEIMER FUNDS MANAGER TO SPEAK ON GLOBAL MARKETS

William L. Wilby, Director of Global Equity Investments with Oppenheimer Funds Inc., will speak at a luncheon in the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center of New Orleans on Thursday, April 6 onForecasting Global Markets in the New Economy.

OppenheimerFunds is the 9th largest U.S. mutual fund company, with assets under management of $126 billion. Bill Wilby heads the global equity investment team at Oppenheimer which manages over $17 billion in 15 global and international mutual funds, and was ranked by Morningstar as the #1 international management team in the U.S. mutual fund industry. In addition to heading the team, Mr. Wilby personally manages the $8.4 billion Oppenheimer Global Fund and the $2.2 billion Global Securities Fund/VA.

To register for the April 6 luncheon program, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 254, or 222, or click .

MONIKA OLIVIER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Monika Olivier, President of Louisiana Acrylics, Inc. and President of the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs, was honored in Washington D.C. on March 1 at the Millennium International Volunteer Awards Gala, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and USA Today. The awards gala is designed to give national prominence to volunteer achievements and to educate the American public about U.S. international affairs and activities. Among the 30 other award recipients from around the country were former President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter. More than 700 guests, including senior level government officials, attended the March 1 gala in Washington. Each honoree was presented with a $5,000 donation to the non-profit organization of the honorees choice. Ms. Olivier assigned her donation to the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs, Inc., the organization she currently directs as president.

LUNCHEON SEMINAR ON OSAKA, JAPAN

JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization, and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development will host a luncheon seminar on doing business in the Osaka, Kansai region of Japan. The seminar on Global Business Opportunities Conference 2000: An Effective Access Point to the Japanese Market will be held at 12:00 Noon on March 15 at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center.

Mr. Masatomo Ihori, Deputy Director of the International Division of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, will present business opportunities available in the Osaka Kansai region. Mr. Ihori will discuss the Global Business Opportunities Conference 2000 (G-BOC) to be held in Osaka on October16-18. The International Trade Division will again be offering discounted booth space to Louisiana companies attending this matchmaking event. If you are interested in attending the seminar or the G-BOC show, call Ms. Rebeka Robertson at DED at (225) 462-4318.