HISPANIC CHAMBER LUNCHEON

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana will hold its quarterly luncheon on Friday, March 7, at the Doubletree Hotel in Metairie. Program highlights include the presentation of the Inspiracion Award to Tomas Orihuela, owner of Union Supermarket, and Jose Cosio and Ada Cosio, publishers of the Directorio Hispano. The award recognizes Hispanic individuals for leadership and support through their professions. The cost to attend the luncheon is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To RSVP, contact Roxanne Canales at (504) 885-4262 or hccla@bellsouth.net.

LOUISIANA FIRMS RECEIVE U.S. COMMERCE AWARD

On February 12, Assistant Secretary and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Maria Cino presented three Louisiana companies with a U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award. Recipients were: Blumenthal Print Works, Inc. of New Orleans; Root International, Inc. of Madisonville; and Tempico Medical Processing, Inc. of Covington. On January 9, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Deputy Assistant Secretary Bruce Blakeman presented the Export Achievement Award to Stabil Drill Specialties of Broussard. The award recognizes firms that have used Commercial Service assistance to make their first export sale or sales to new foreign markets.

CANADA CONNECT

Canada Connect is a one-on-one matchmaker service offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to U.S. food and agricultural product exporters interested in exporting to Canada. A new component was added to include the U.S. wine industry. Call the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546 for details.

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL ENSENAT TO SPEAK AT WTC LUNCHEON

On Friday, March 21 the World Trade Center in New Orleans will hold a special luncheon program in the Plimsoll Club featuring Ambassador Donald B. Ensenat, the U.S. Chief of Protocol. The program will be held in conjunction with the Consular Corps College of the United States, which is conducting its annual meeting in New Orleans March 21-22, and the New Orleans Consular Corps and the City of New Orleans. Ambassador Ensenat is a native of New Orleans and a past President of the World Trade Center. From 1992 to 1993 he served as U.S. Ambassador to Brunei. He was sworn in as Chief of Protocol on June 6, 2001.

The Consular Corps College was founded in 1969 with the primary goal of increasing professional communication among the roughly 1,600 foreign Consular Officers serving in the United States. Over the years the focus has expanded to include communications between consulates and local, state and federal authorities, as well as law enforcement agencies. The Consular Corps College is a non-profit, professional society and is comprised of members from more than 48 nations, representing all major continents of the world.

To register for the March 21 luncheon, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or click here.

FTZ APPLICANT

An application was submitted to the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Board by the Port of New Orleans, grantee of FTZ2, requesting authority on behalf of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. to expand the scope of manufacturing activity conducted under zone procedure within Subzone 2J at the Murphy Oil Refinery Complex in Meraux, Louisiana. A copy of the application is available for public inspection at the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center. Call (504) 589-6546 for more information. To learn more about Foreign Trade Zones, log on to http://ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage.

YUGOSLAVIA DISSOLVED

On February 4, the Balkan federation of Yugoslavia was dissolved. The new nation is called Serbia and Montenegro. According to a European Union brokered agreement, the two countries will maintain a quasi-union, but may lead to the independence of each country in the next few years.

2003 TRADE DIRECTORY

The 2003 edition of the Louisiana International Trade Directory (LITD), the official import-export directory of the state of Louisiana published by the World Trade Center, is now available. The LITD contains over 1,700 detailed listings of Louisiana exporters, importers, trade services, ports, airports, trade organizations, and other valuable information. The prices are $40 for the binder ($20 for WTC members) and $100 for the CD Rom ($50 for WTC members). To order, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or visit the WTC website at www. wtcno.org to purchase the LITD online.

LUNCHEON PROGRAM ON CUBA

The World Affairs Council of New Orleans is holding a luncheon program on Wednesday, March 12 on "Cuba After Castro: 44 Years Later." The featured speaker is Irving Louis Horowitz, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Political Science at Rutgers University. The program will be held at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center in New Orleans. The event is co-sponsored by the WTC and the University of New Orleans’ Metropolitan College. Call the World Affairs Council’s office at (504) 523-2201 to register.

CAPT. J.W. CLARK RECEIVES WTC CUNNINGHAM AWARD

Capt. J.W. Clark, past President of the World Trade Center of New Orleans, longtime President of Delta Steamship Lines, and a renowned figure in the international maritime industry, was recently presented the WTC’s prestigious Thomas F. Cunningham Award. The award is given by the WTC "in recognition of outstanding service toward better social, educational, economic, cultural and political understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the Western Hemisphere, and to stimulate and inspire continued understanding and friendship among all Americans."

Capt. Clark, a 1940 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service last year. Following his graduation from the Academy, he joined Delta as a ship’s officer. During World War II, he commanded troop transport vessels in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific war zones. After the war, Capt. Clark rejoined Delta as master of vessels on the South American trade route. From 1946 to 1959, he held various foreign managerial positions with Delta, including service as resident manager in Argentina and Brazil. He was elected Vice President of Delta in 1953 and President in 1959, a position he held for the next 20 years.

Since retiring from Delta in 1979, Capt. Clark has operated Clark Maritime Associates, an international consulting firm specializing in the U.S. and Latin America. He also served as Executive Director of the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport from 1982 to 1985. Other affiliations include serving as a Director of the first Panama Canal Commission appointed by President Jimmy Carter, as a Commissioner and President of the Port of New Orleans, and as President of the WTC’s predecessor organization, the International Trade Mart, from 1972 to 1977.

WORLD BANK WEBSITE FOR COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

The U.S. Commercial Service/U.S. Department of Commerce has created a 15-minute tutorial on "How to Navigate the World Bank Website" to evaluate commercial opportunities and contacts for project and Bank-financed procurement opportunities in which U.S. firms may participate.

The navigating tool uses step-by step instructions to help U.S. firms locate project information documents, bidding documents and the monthly operational summary, a listing of all recently approved projects and the amount of their funding. This navigating tool can be accessed my e-mailing Eric Henderson with the Commercial Service World Bank at ehenderson@worldbank.org.

The World Bank lends $15-25 billion annually to developing country governments to fund projects for economic development and poverty reduction. This funding generates some 40,000 contracts each year for private companies to supply a wide range of goods and equipment, services, and civil works. While the World Bank Internet site (www.worldbank.org) is an invaluable tool, it does not replace the assistance and guidance that the Commercial Service Liaison Office at the World Bank can offer.

The U.S. Commercial Service Multilateral Development Bank Liaison Officers are as follows:

African Development Bank

Mr. Scott Pozil, Commercial Liaison Officer

E-mail: Scott.Pozil@mail.doc.gov

 

Asian Development Bank

Mr. Stewart Ballard, Senior Commercial Officer

E-mail: Stewart.Ballard@mail.doc.gov

Office E-mail: manila.adb.office.box@mail.doc.gov

 

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Ms. Alice Davenport, Senior Commercial Officer

E-mail: Alice.Davenport@mail.doc.gov

Office E-mail: London.EBRD.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov

 

Inter-American Development Bank

Mr. Gene Harris Director, Commercial Liaison Office

E-mail: Gene.Harris@mail.doc.gov

 

Ms. Barbara White, Commercial Liaison

E-mail: Barbara.White@mail.doc.gov

 

World Bank

Mr. William H. Crawford, Director/Commercial Liaison Office

E-mail: Wcrawford@worldbank.org

Mr. Eric Henderson, Procurement Officer/Commercial Liaison Office

E-mail: Ehenderson@worldbank.org

BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS

The Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS) is the U.S. Government’s main resource for trade and investment information on the Eurasian States of the Former Soviet Union. BISNIS publishes Search for Partners to help U.S. companies find partner and investment opportunities in these expanding markets.

Search for Partners is distributed via email. To receive the report, please send an e-mail to BISNIS at bisnis@ita.doc.gov or call (202) 482-4655. To view previously published Search for Partner leads online, visit www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/searchfpart.cfm

VIETNAM EXPO 2003

Vietnam Expo 2003, hosted by the Ministry of Trade from April 9 to 13 in Ha Noi, is the largest exhibition in Vietnam. Under the theme of "Vietnam: Potential and Integration," Vietnam Expo 2003 will provide international participants with a one-stop approach to meet and network with decision makers of all major industries and manufacturers of various products. The U.S. Pavilion at the Vietnam Expo will assist U.S. companies in marketing their products in Vietnam and/or to outsource products made in Vietnam. U.S. companies can participate in the U.S. Pavilion in any of the following ways:

• Displaying marketing literature at the Vietnam Expo;
• Exhibiting at the Vietnam Expo;
• Or joining a U.S. business delegation to Vietnam.

To receive a registration packet or for additional information, contact the Vietnam Resource Group, U.S. Representative of VINEXAD, the Vietnam Expo Organizer, via e-mail at us2vietnam@aol.com

PETROCHEMICAL MAPS AND DIRECTORIES FOR SALE

The World Trade Center has available for sale satellite maps of Mississippi River industries from the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, as well as the 2002-2003 Directory of Petrochemical Industries along the Lower Mississippi River with facility information (including feedstocks and finished products), addresses and aerial photographs. Both the satellite maps and the Petrochemical Industries Directory are available in hardcopy or CD format.

The 2001-2002 Expanded Lake Charles Petrochemical Directory is also available through the World Trade Center of New Orleans. The directory provides contacts and addresses, detailed maps of plant locations, product information, and plant history for petrochemical companies in the Lake Charles region. The expanded directory also includes other Louisiana plants not covered in the Lower Mississippi River Directory. To purchase the directories or maps, or for additional information on the WTC’s other reference materials, call (504) 529-1601, ext. 222, or click here.

SBA TRADE OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON APRIL 8

The Small Business Exporters Association (SBEA) is hosting its First Annual Southern Regional Trade Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday, April 8, from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Trade Outlook 2003 is geared towards trade specialists, government agencies, community organizations, and small businesses committed to exporting activities. For the purpose of this conference, small business is defined as those making less than $15 million in revenue.

The theme of Trade Outlook 2003 is "increasing your companies revenue through exporting." The focus will be geared towards trade policy that affects small business. Additionally, information will be given regarding available financing to small business exporters and export opportunities within the agricultural industry. Special emphasis will be placed on trade opportunities with Russia.

Key presenters for Trade Outlook 2003 include members of President Bush’s Cabinet, representatives from EXIMBANK, USDA/FAS, the United States Small Business Administration, and OPIC, in addition presenters from the private sector. For more information contact: Stephanie Summers-O’Neal at (601)-353-2522 or sonya3@bellsouth.net, or visit the website: www.sbea.org.

LITC HOLDING TRADE AND LEGAL SEMINARS

The Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC University of New Orleans (LITC) is offering the following seminars. On March 18, 19, and 20 the LITC is holding an Export-Import Seminar Series from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the SLU St. Tammany Center in Mandeville. The topics include Export/Import Strategies and Market Research, Pricing, Terms, Quotations, and Customs Entry Procedures, International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation. Also, on Friday, March 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the LITC is conducting a seminar on "The Laws of International Trade" at the World Trade Center in New Orleans, 18th floor. Two New Orleans international attorneys will address issues such as international patents, copyrights, property names, and contracts. Call (504) 568-8222 for registration information.

GERARDIN JOINS FACC/LA OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS

The Louisiana chapter of the French-Chamber of Commerce (FACC/LA) is pleased to announce that Ms. Claire Gerardin on February 13 began her 12-month assignment in New Orleans as the representative of the French Economic Mission in Houston.

In December 2001, FACC/LA signed an agreement with the French Embassy that, in effect, designated the Louisiana chapter as the branch office of the Houston Mission for the promotion of French trade and investment in Louisiana. Ms. Gerardin will work with the FACC/LA in promoting specific French investment projects in Louisiana and will assist in planning trade and investment missions to France during 2003, the year of the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.

On her day of arrival in New Orleans, Ms. Gerardin was part of a delegation received by Mayor Ray Nagin for a wide-ranging discussion on future French economic activity in New Orleans. The senior members of the delegation were Mr. Patrick Rolot, French Consul General in New Orleans and Mr. Denis Simonneau, French Consul General and Trade Commissioner in Houston, who were accompanied by Mr. Damien Regnard, FACC/LA President, FACC/LA Executive Director Kenneth Scott, and Ms. Gerardin.

Ms. Gerardin was born in Bordeaux and obtained an undergraduate degree at the Sorbonne and a Master’s degree in International Commerce. Prior to her arrival in New Orleans, she worked at the French Chamber of Commerce in Montreal supporting French companies in Canada. Ms. Gerardin can be contacted at the FACC/LA office at the World Trade Center in New Orleans tel (504) 561-0070; fax (504) 592-9999; e-mail info@faccla.com.

DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IDB

On April 8-9, the International Development Bank’s (IDB) External Relations Department will host its Procurement Workshop Seminar in Washington, D.C. The workshop will focus on procurement and consulting procedures, how to bid on contracts for goods, equipment, works and consulting services; the role of the IDB Country Office and executing agencies in the procurement process. Any firm interested in doing business in Latin America and the Caribbean through IDB-funded projects should attend this Procurement Workshop Seminar. There are numerous opportunities in the environment (water and waste water) transportation, IT, management consulting, and training sectors. For details, visit: www.iadb.org/exr/english/business_opp/regform.htm , or call Isabel Hagbrink on (202) 623-1546; email: isabelh@iadb.org.

OIL AND GAS EXPO

The 2003 Gulf Coast Energy Marketplace will be held March 31-April 1 at the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans. The keynote speaker will be David Laughman, Vice President and General Manager for Shell Exploration and Production Co. Also, Tracy Krohn, President and CEO of W&T Offshore, will discuss the role of independent oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico. There also will be an expo at which companies that provide goods and services to the offshore and onshore energy industry can display their offerings and meet with industry professionals. Co-sponsors include the MetroVision Economic Development Partnership and Louisiana Economic Development. For more details, contact Ben Waring at (504) 733-3117 or bwaring@ocsbbs.com. Complete information, including details on sponsorship opportunities and booth reservations, can be obtained at www.gcem.net.