A Luncheon Briefing

Why You Should Attend This Program To learn some of the nuts and bolts of doing business in the CEE/NIS, and developing an international marketing strategy to assess and penetrate these important markets.   The EBRD is active in 26 countries in the CEE/NIS from Azerbaijan to Russia to Ukraine, and in 17 sectors, from rail to agribusiness, plus new activities in Kosovo reconstruction and Balkan development

Millions of dollars in hard currency procurement contracts are awarded every month   Despite its name, the U.S. is the largest single shareholder in the EBRD with a 1O% stake, and U.S. firms are a leading beneficiary of its lending and investment activities.   U.S. firms also are the lead or major investors in projects valued at $1O.81 billion, equivalent to over one-fifth of the total value of the private sector projects funded by EBRD.   Of all public sector procurement contracts going to Western firms through 1998, U.S. firms have won almost 1O percent.   Three of the top five consultancy contract winners for EBRD funded consultancies are U.S. firms

About the EBRD

Established in 1991, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) aims to assist 26 countries of central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to develop market economies. The EBRD helps its countries of operations implement structural and sectoral economic reforms, promoting competition, privatization and entrepreneurship, taking into account the particular needs of countries at different stages of transition. Through its investments, it promotes private sector activity, the strengthening of financial institutions and legal systems, and the development of the infrastructure needed to support the private sector.

In fulfilling its role as a catalyst of change, the EBRD encourages co-financing and foreign direct investment from the private and public sectors, helps to mobilise domestic capital, and provides technical cooperation in relevant areas. It works in close cooperation with international financial institutions and other international and national organizations. In all of its activities, the Bank promotes environmentally sound and sustainable development.

The EBRD has 60 members (58 countries, the European Community and the European Investment Bank), including the 26 countries of operations. The EBRD’s subscribed capital is $20.7 billion. The Bank also borrows in various currencies on world capital markets. As of April 1, 1999, the Bank had approved 629 projects: these involved $15.2 billion of the EBRD's own funds and were expected to mobilise an additional $36.6 billion. Of the approved projects, 553 had been signed, committing $12.6 billion of the EBRD's own funds. Sixty-nine per cent of total committed funding was for private sector projects. Project-related technical cooperation is a major feature of the EBRD’s activities. By the end of 1998, 56 cooperation fund agreements with bilateral donors, totaling $620 million, had been made with the Bank for this purpose; 2,106 projects, with a total estimated cost of $582.2 million, had been committed.

About Gene R. Harris

Gene R. Harris, originally from rural Oregon, has served since August 1998 as the Senior U.S. Commercial Officer with the, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London. Mr. Harris assists U.S. firms access the EBRD for private sector borrowing/investment projects and tendering on EBRD-funded public sector projects, including consultancies, in the 26 countries covered by the Bank. Mr. Harris has extensive private and government international experience, mainly in developing countries. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science, African Studies and Problems of Developing Countries, from Boston University and a B.A. and M.A. in Government and International Affairs from George Washington University. He participated in cultural exchange programs, has been a university professor, an oil company and petroleum service company executive, and consultant and advisor to foreign governments before he joined the Foreign Service. He has lived and worked overseas almost half of his adult life.

Mr. Harris joined the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service in 1983 and was assigned to Alexandria, Egypt, where he opened a new USFCS Office. After 18 months, he was transferred to Cairo for three years as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, where he organized major trade events. Mr. Harris was then assigned for three years as Regional Senior Commercial Officer in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, where he established the first-ever USFCS regional operation coordinating commercial promotion in West and Francophone Africa and covered all of Africa for African Development Bank-funded project procurement by U.S. firms. He was then assigned as SCO to Dublin, Ireland, where he developed an aggressive commercial program encouraging U.S. firms to use Ireland as a gateway to Europe. Three years later, Mr. Harris established a new Regional SCO position in East and Central Africa based in Nairobi as part of the Administration’s emphasis on developing a more active commercial presence in Africa.

Sponsoring Organizations

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

French-American Chamber of Commerce/Louisiana Chapter

Transoceanic Shipping Company, Inc.

Whitney National Bank

World Trade Center of New Orleans

In Cooperation With

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

City of New Orleans, Office of International Relations

Consular Corps of New Orleans

New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center

Europe/Louisiana Business Council

Foreign Relations Association

International Trade Council/Red River Region

Louisiana District Export Council

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana International Trade Commission

New Orleans Media Center

New Orleans Technology Council

United Nations Association of Greater New Orleans

World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans

Registration Fee: $22 for members of the sponsoring organizations and $27 for non-members.