U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICIAL TO SPEAK AT WTC

The luncheon features Mr. Myron Brilliant, Senior Vice President for International Affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Together with communities across the country, including in Louisiana, the U.S. Chamber is committed to keeping the U.S. globally engaged and competitive and to maintaining trade as a national priority as an engine for growth. The Chamber is working with Congress and the Administration to keep the trade agenda moving forward.

As Senior Vice President, International Affairs, Mr. Brilliant is responsible for driving the global business strategy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He represents the Chamber before foreign government and business leaders and oversees a team of policy experts committed to expanding global commercial engagement.

Mr. Brilliant previously served as the Chamber's Vice President for Asia, where he developed the largest Asia policy shop in Washington, D.C. He has led numerous broad-based business coalitions working on strengthening U.S.-China relations and promoting free trade agreements with Singapore, Australia, and South Korea.

To register for the September 29 luncheon program, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 234, or register on-line at www.wtcno.org/programs.
 

SEPTEMBER 22 BRIEFING AT THE WTC ON U.S. BUSINESS VISAS

The State Department understands the importance of international trade and travel to the U.S. economy, and the value of foreign business and tourist travelers, not only in dollars but in the exchange of ideas, cultures and goods. The Visa Office at State proactively reaches out to the U.S. business community to discuss U.S. business visas and the visa process, to address questions and concerns about, among other issues, invitations to foreign business partners, buyers, sellers or employees, whether they’re coming here for direct business deals, training programs or trade shows.

The Visa Office finds that there is a lot of misinformation about U.S. business visas, which can often be corrected by speaking directly with business groups around the country. At the September 22 briefing program, Ms. Conway will make a 20-minute presentation followed by a Q/A Session, and will then be available at 3:00 p.m. for any one-on-one meetings. She recommends that participants review the information on business visas on State’s website, http://travel.state.gov/pdf/BusinessVisa.pdf prior to the presentation.
 

SBDC AND WTC TO HOLD EXPORT-IMPORT CLASSES

As a follow-up, on October 27 and 29 and November 3 and 5 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. Ruperto Chavarri with the SBDC will conduct, in conjunction with the WTC, a 17-hour four-part seminar series on “Getting Started in Exporting and Importing” at the WTC. Participants will learn step-by-step the actual “how-to” of international market research, preparing products for export & import, pricing strategies, terms of sale & quotations, export & import documentation, export shipping & import entry procedures, trade financing, and methods of payment. For more information call the SBDC at (504) 831-3734.
 

PORT PRESIDENT LAGRANGE DELIVERS ANNUAL ADDRESS

Two critical pieces of that future were passed by the Louisiana Legislature recently: A per-ton tax credit for Louisiana businesses using Louisiana ports and a tax credit encouraging private investment into public ports.

“Over the last year this port community came together like never before to support this landmark piece of legislation,” LaGrange said. “The tax credit programs are very cost effective ways to help local companies compete globally, while also supporting Louisiana ports.”

LaGrange also discussed the global economic downturn and its effects on trade and transportation. “The recession poses a major challenge to all ports and New Orleans is no different,” he said. “However, we are a diversified port and ready to face the challenges coming our way.”

Recently, Port figures have shown signs of a rebound. Ship calls were up 4.5 percent in the first five months of 2009 and total general cargo figures showed slight gains. Breakbulk cargo is up 15 percent, iron and steel imports were up more than 6 percent, and metals traded on the London Metals Exchange - such as aluminum, zinc and copper - have soared this year.

Coffee imports are up 9 percent compared to a year ago, and the Port has handled about 5,000 tons of bananas so far – which is a new cargo. These gains offset losses on the container side of about 15 percent. However, LaGrange cited a positive statistic from July, when the Port handled 34,014 TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units) – up 57 percent from the same period one year ago.

LaGrange also highlighted millions of dollars of repair and construction projects either completed, underway, or in the design phase. All told about $70 million is currently being spent on infrastructure repair and improvement projects. In addition, design work is underway to modernize and improve the Julia Street Cruise Terminal – a $9 million project slated to begin next year.

Port officials also applied for $65 million in federal stimulus funds through a transportation grant program. The funds would build a new intermodal rail facility at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, modernize sections of both Napoleon and the Louisiana Avenue Terminal Complex, and increase efficiencies.

LaGrange also announced the Port’s top priority – rebuilding the dockside refrigerated terminal capacity lost during Hurricane Katrina – is moving forward. The Port Board approved a plan earlier in the day to use 13.5 acres of terminal operator Ports America’s leasehold to build a new 147,000 square-foot refrigerated warehouse. The Port’s current facility at Jourdan Road lost its deep-draft access when Congress closed the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet following Hurricane Katrina.

“We’ve bent over backwards to make this plan a reality,” LaGrange said. “We’re talking about the largest export poultry operation in the country, which is crucial to Louisiana’s agriculture industry, as well as the maritime industry. It’s time to move forward to save hundreds of high-paying jobs,” he said. Continued investment into the Port’s Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal will be a priority and should be a top project for the state.

Other updates from LaGrange’s speech include:

• Two 100-gauge gantry cranes purchased for more than $13 million each are on schedule to be delivered next summer to the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal.

• On November 10. Carnival Cruise Lines will replace its 2,600-passenger Carnival Fantasy with its 3,400-passenger Carnival Triumph, which will sail four- five- and seven-day cruises, including a new eastern Caribbean itinerary.

• Construction will begin in 2010 on the $9 million project to improve and modify the Julia Street Cruise Terminal – taking two existing terminals and creating one large, modern facility.

• A $400,000 project to renovate the John Churchill Chase Riverfront streetcar stop will improve access between the streetcar line, Morial Convention Center, Riverwalk Marketplace and the cruise terminals. The project is being done in concert with the Regional Planning Commission.

• Increased demand led Miami-based Seaboard Marine to employ a larger ship in its weekly Port of New Orleans container service with Latin America. Seaboard’s 974-TEU Seaboard Caribe replaced the 640-TEU Heinrich J.

• CMA CGM and Mediterranean Shipping Company partnered to employ a new European service, which will begin in October, with the CMA CGM Bellini making its maiden call to the Port of New Orleans.
 

FOREIGN BUYERS TO ATTEND LAGCOE 2009 TRADE SHOW

This year’s program will feature presentations by Javier Gutierrez, the President of Ecopetrol, Colombia’s National Oil Company, and Dr. Pedro Silva, Sub-Director of PEMEX Exploration and Production, as well as presentations by several USCS energy specialists on market opportunities and doing business in their international locations. Look for more information on the foreign delegations, schedule of International Presentations, and how to register for your “Showtime” counseling meetings coming soon to the LAGCOE website www.lagcoe.com or to your email inbox.
 

BAGASSE-BASED COGENERATION OPPORTUNITIES IN PAKISTAN

Companies already doing business in Pakistan or those with technology, equipment or services appropriate for potential export to Pakistani sugar mills for biomass cogeneration projects are encouraged to attend. There is a $30 registration fee to attend the event, which includes a briefing book, breakfast, coffee and lunch. Please register in advance at www.tdapakistanov.com  or contact Brie Knox with the U.S. Department of Commerce for additional information at (504) 589-6703 or Brie.Knox@mail.doc.gov.
 

LSU TO HOLD SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM

ANNUAL “AZUCAR BALL” SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER

The black tie affair will take place at the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans New Orleans with non-stop music from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. by Julio y Caesar and Rumba Buena. There will be a silent auction for those wanting to bid on some very special items and trips. As always, there will be delicious food.

Ileana Suquet and Darleen Carlisle are co-chairing the event and are working with their committee to make this “Azucar Ball” another memorable experience. The recipient of this year’s Galvez Cup will be Eugene Schreiber, Managing Director of the World Trade Center of New Orleans.

The proceeds from “The Azucar Ball” will provide much- needed revenue for the Foundation’s scholarship fund. For the past 19 years, the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation Scholarship Fund has provided outstanding Hispanic students with scholarships to attend public, private and parochial high schools in the city. Last year 37 scholarships were awarded.

Individual tickets to “The Azucar Ball” are $100 a person. . Tickets to the patron party and the ball are $150 each. For ticket information please call Rosa Rodriquez or Hannagan Johnson at (504) 523-2600.
 

AACCLA TO HOLD LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN MEETING

This conference offers unparalleled insights for companies focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as access to well-known leaders in business and government. For over four decades, the “Forecast” conference has brought together a “who’s who” of business in the Americas focusing on the hemispheric agenda.

Confirmed speakers include: Hon. Gary Locke, U.S. Secretary of Commerce; Jane Bussey, Editorial Director, Latin Trade; Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty III, President, McLarty and Associates; Moisés Naim, Editor, Foreign Policy; Shannon O’Neil, Douglas Dillon Fellow for Latin America Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; and Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Senior Fellow, Center on Global Prosperity.

Representing 23 American Chambers of Commerce in 21 Latin American and Caribbean nations, AACCLA’s 20,000 member companies manage over 80 percent of all U.S. investment in the region. Acting in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - the world’s largest business federation - AACCLA has become the premier advocate for U.S. business in the Americas.

For more information about the AACCLA conference and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Maria Medrano at (202) 463-5384 or mmedrano@uschamber.com.
 

MIDDLE EAST TRADE MISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR US FIRMS

USDA ANNOUNCES NEW GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL TRADE DATABASE

The GATS database, which replaces the current U.S. trade data system, will provide users with U.S. agricultural data not previously available from FAS, including U.S. Customs district trade data, monthly and annual trade data going back to 1967, and state export data. Users will also be able to use GATS to produce charts and graphs.

FAS stated that GATS will help exporters and government officials keep up with fluctuations in U.S. agricultural trade, which can help them formulate marketing and negotiating objectives and strategies. In addition, policy makers, program administrators, farmers, exporters, food aid organizations, and others will be able to use this information to plan activities and make decisions.
 

PUNKE NOMINATED TO BE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE AT WTO