Keynote Speech Presented at The Governor’s Conference on International Trade

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Thank you, Governor Musgrove, for your kind introduction, and thanks to all here in Mississippi for the warm welcome that we from the World Trade Center of New Orleans have received here in Jackson over the past two days.

 My thanks also go to Blake Wilson and the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Economic Council for their invitation for us to be here with you today.

 I bring you greetings from the 2,200 members of the World Trade Center-New Orleans, who welcome, support and applaud Mississippi’s decision to join the World Trade Center movement.

 We, your neighbors in Louisiana, share in your excitement over Governor Musgrove’s announcement of the formation of World Trade Center-Mississippi.

 I’d like to set the record straight, though, and let me be clear on this point. Yes, trade is an integral part of a diverse and thriving economy. . . Importing a certain professional sports team from the New Orleans Superdome is, however, not an export that we in Louisiana can support.

 As a New Orleans Saints fan, I ask you not to buy into the notion that the Saints are, in fact, "domeless."

 I must say, though, that Mississippi has an impressive track record in attracting enormously successful large-scale events to the state.

 Look at, for example, the USA International Ballet Competition held right here in Jackson. I guess it takes the wind out some stereotypes of the South, when a mid-size city in the Deep South is the only U.S. city to host the International Ballet Competition, an event the New York Times calls "the most fiercely contested of them all."

But here it is, a world-class international event in your own back yard, with all the attendant opportunities for economic development that an event of this magnitude brings.

 And look also at the ongoing series of international cultural exhibitions hosted here in Jackson.

 "The Majesty of Spain" Royal Collections Exhibition—just opened by the Ambassador of Spain to the United States, Javier Ruperez, has been described QUOTE "as one of the finest exhibitions of Spain ever in the world." END QUOTE. I understand it may even attract the Royal Family of Spain to visit Jackson.

 While such international cultural events as the International Ballet Competition and "The Majesty of Spain" exhibition may be construed more in terms of their contribution to the arts and humanities, the fact is that these events hold enormous import for business expansion and economic development.

 These are, in fact, prime examples of world trade, with all the inherent economic implications. Both events – and others like them sure to follow—are examples of how your newly founded World Trade Center-Mississippi can take on a leadership role to maximize the potential that lay in such a golden opportunity.

 As one might expect, there is certainly economic potential for your tourism industry. But what about spinoff jobs that touch and enhance a wide-ranging group of businesses ranging from retail to real estate to the restaurant industry?

 This is where the World Trade Center earns its daily bread, so to speak. Because, unlike other associated groups that encompass only a single industry – railroads, steamships, um, professional sports teams – the World Trade Center affiliation brings with it a coalition of diverse interests.

 No other "umbrella" organization can bring together such a range of interests to exchange information – to tap into the synergy of the group to promote the markets in your state. In short, there is nothing else quite like a World Trade Center for stimulating economic expansion in a diverse and substantive way via trade opportunities throughout the world.

 But I don’t need to sell you on the merits of a synergistic approach to growing your economy. I look at the myriad of successes you’ve already engineered, and it’s obvious that Mississippians already understand the concept of how to make things happen through collaboration.

 I could cite a few examples of such collaboration: The Stennis Space Center in Picayune, where, thanks to Mississippi Senator Lott and the entire Mississippi Congressional delegation, all of America’s space shuttle main engines are tested, and all kinds of new space-driven technologies are being developed and put to commercial use for the benefit of Mississippi, the nation and, indeed, the world.

 Then there’s the significant progress and promise of Mississippi’s ports, particularly your two principal Gulf ports, the Ports of Gulfport and Pascagoula. Port activity is most certainly a principal driver of international trade activity, and a key focal point of many World Trade Centers, including World Trade Center-New Orleans.

 We could point to your continued progress with the Jackson International Airport, and the potential for a Regional International Airport near the Stennis Space Center to serve the Gulf South Region of Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana. Such international air facilities are vital to modern-day international business.

 Mississippi’s long history of welcoming international students to your college and university campuses has created a vast international network of friends of Mississippi. There is, for instance, enormous interest in the international business community in leading Mississippi employers like Mississippi Power Company, BellSouth Telecommunications, Entergy, Trustmark, AmSouth Bank, Mississippi Valley Gas, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Howard Industries, Stuart Irby Company, Bank of Mississippi, and Friede-Goldman Halter.

 These, and other companies have been supportive of efforts to build Mississippi’s economy, and have also supported in various ways and to varying degrees like-minded efforts of the World Trade Center-New Orleans.]

Mississippi’s spectacular growth of a world-class furniture industry in Northeast Mississippi in and around Tupelo, is significant. The same could be said for Mississippi’s even more spectacular growth in the hospitality and gaming industries on the Gulf Coast, in the Delta in Tunica County, and in Northeast Mississippi near West Point and Philadelphia.

 The development in Central Mississippi of one of the nation’s leading clusters of Communications and Information Technology firms holds great potential for the impact of a World Trade Center. Business leaders from a state that boasts the world headquarters of Worldcom, based in Clinton, and whose $37 Billion merger with MCI was among the largest corporate mergers in U.S. history, certainly you already have a grasp of the international business implications of information technology and telecommunications.

 Then there is the enormous business success enjoyed by Mississippi entrepreneurs internationally in companies like Peavey Electronics in Meridian, the largest manufacturer of electronic musical equipment and instruments in the world.

 There’s Viking Range Corporation in the Delta, the highly successful manufacturer of high-end kitchen equipment to markets around the world. And numerous companies in the poultry and catfish farming industries which, along with Mississippi’s cotton, soybean, beef and forest products producers, daily serve international markets.

 Consider the role that World Trade Center-Mississippi can serve in helping to facilitate growth in these firms’ businesses.

 You have won a $930 million dollar Nissan automobile manufacturing plant, which has catapulted Mississippi to the front ranks of international corporate locations. World Trade Center-Mississippi will, undoubtedly, serve a vital role in facilitating the successful international business activity of Nissan and the dozens of international business suppliers and partners who are planning to invest in Mississippi alongside Nissan and the State of Mississippi.

Such a list of business accomplishments demonstrates that Mississippi is teaching the rest of the country how to spawn economic development, attract international businesses and support cultural activities. World Trade Center- Mississippi can only serve to enhance your strengths.

 Any complete discussion of your state’s business leadership potential should necessarily include the Mississippi Legislature, which enacted the groundbreaking "Advantage Mississippi" economic development legislative package, thereby enabling Mississippi’s vision for economic growth and prosperity.

 I’d like to borrow a quote President Bush cited in his recent address to the Joint Session of Congress, a profound quote from that great American philosopher Yogi Berra: "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Your joining the worldwide network of World Trade Centers is a pivotal step, to be sure -- a fork in the road. And I’d like to perhaps offer a few ideas—ways to think about World Trade Centers as a specialized tool—so that you might begin to maximize the potential of the World Trade Center-Mississippi.

 You will find a valuable resource in the World Trade Centers Association or the "WTCA." This New York-based organization licenses groups to use the World Trade Center name. There are now some 330 of World Trade Centers in about 100 countries around the world. More importantly, WTCA facilitates the interaction of these World Trade Centers. 

Through the WTCA, you are part of a network of over 500,000 companies that are affiliated with WTCA members worldwide.

 The WTCA was established in 1970 with the idea that if you could coalesce those who are exporters, importers and service providers, you could significantly bolster international trade.

 The first seeds of a global World Trade Center movement were sown in 1970 when the pioneer World Trade Centers in New Orleans, Houston, New York and Tokyo first organized a World Trade Centers Association. Interestingly, the charter for the World Trade Centers Association was drawn up on the kitchen table of the French Quarter home of Paul Fabry, the gentleman who managed the predecessor organization of World Trade Center-New Orleans, International House.

One final anecdote that illustrates World Trade Center-New Orleans’ inextricable link to WTCA over the years: World Trade Centers worldwide use the motto, "Dedicated to World Peace, Trade and Understanding." That concise "mission statement", if you will, was coined by Lindy Boggs, another resident of the French Quarter, and herself a former ambassador to the Vatican and former Congresswoman. She came up with this motto for her late husband, Hale, back in 1943 when he became the first executive secretary on the founding of the original World Trade Center, then called International House. It was adopted by the World Trade Centers Association on its founding in 1970 – and is now used worldwide by all WTCA members.

 The WTCA is, then, an umbrella organization for World Trade Centers. It offers World Trade Centers like World Trade Center-Mississippi a variety of services and opportunities to network with other World Trade Centers and their members.

 The WTCA website is very easy to remember: www.wtca.org It offers all the information and details you may need, as well as links to the World Trade Centers worldwide.

 Because each World Trade Center is different, as it responds to the particular needs of the area and members it serves, I’d like to speak briefly about World Trade Center-New Orleans, if you’ll indulge me for a moment

 The mission of our organization is "to add wealth and jobs in Louisiana through international trade, port development and allied activities." WTC-New Orleans is a non-profit organization of 2,200 corporate and individual members which – as I said earlier - was started in 1943 as International House and in 1945 as International Trade Mart. These two predecessor organizations merged in 1985.

 WTC-New Orleans conducts a wide range of programs such as trade promotion, educational and legislative activities, all designed to enhance Louisiana's position in international trade, investment, transportation, banking and other trade-related services. 

These programs run the range from an introductory class on exporting and importing to foreign language classes, to seminars on doing business in individual countries, to sponsoring international conferences and trade shows, to arranging face-to-face meetings with international prospects.

 We produce international trade publications such as a directory, as well as a monthly trade bulletin. 

We coordinate trade missions to other countries comprised of key Louisiana business, port, airport, tourism, and government leaders. 

Through these and other programs, WTC-New Orleans serves as a catalyst in furthering Louisiana's trade with other countries and bringing together international buyers and sellers to generate new business. In recognition of its efforts, the WTC-New Orleans has received both the President's "E" and "E-Star" Awards for outstanding contributions to the expansion of United States exports.

 WTC-New Orleans also operates the 33-story World Trade Center at 2 Canal Street on the Mississippi River riverfront. World Trade Center tenants include the likes of export-import companies; suppliers of trade-related services; foreign consulates and trade offices; city, state and regional trade agencies; and trade and transportation-related business associates, and shortly a hotel also. 

As a bonus, WTC-New Orleans also has the Plimsoll Club available for its members and guests, located on the 30th floor of the WTC-New Orleans Building with magnificent views of the Mighty Mississippi… the River, that is. 

Other member advantages include reciprocal rights with other WTCs and clubs around the globe; foreign trade assistance; participation in WTC-New Orleans trade programs; and NETWORK, a worldwide electronic telecommunications system for instant trade leads among WTCs worldwide. 

Our Managing Director for Trade, Eugene Schreiber, has met with the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Partnership for Economic Development to share information on WTC-New Orleans activities and functions. Let’s hope that this is the beginning of a long and reciprocal relationship.

 WTC-New Orleans will continue to be supportive of your efforts as the World Trade Center-Mississippi develops. 

What in the world will World Trade Center-Mississippi be? This is a question only Mississippi’s business and international communities can answer, after you have developed a shared vision of the future of Mississippi.

 Having said this, I respectfully offer a few thoughts for your consideration as you develop a shared vision for World Trade Center-Mississippi:

• World Trade Center-Mississippi—as its name implies—could serve all of Mississippi, from the Gulf Coast through Central Mississippi to North Mississippi, addressing the needs of small business as well as the very largest corporations operating in the State. It could derive energy and new ideas from Mississippi’s educational and cultural institutions with international missions or needs.

 If you opt for this statewide route, WTC-Mississippi will need more than a physical building to accomplish its goals. I would encourage you to involve Mississippi’s burgeoning Communications and Information Technology industry. 

• Another route is for WTC-Mississippi to serve as a private sector "mover and shaker," encouraging and providing opportunities and venues for networking among Mississippi’s business, international, and governmental communities. Networking—that is, building human bridges for international trade and understanding—is a key function of most successful WTCs.
   
• WTC-Mississippi could be designed with a goal of building a revenue-generating asset. This would carry some of the financial burden by assuring that programming is not financially dependent on membership dues.

 This real estate model is not the only successful model, and it may not be correct for World Trade Center-Mississippi—only you can answer that.

 But the message here is that you have a vital role to play. Being on the front-end, at the foundational level, of something big is a weighty responsibility, to be sure. But at the same time, there is a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.

 As you craft a vision for World Trade Center-Mississippi, know that you have the backing and enthusiastic support of some 300 sister organizations across the globe. Use us, call on us. And know that you have a tremendous momentum on which to build your organization. As I reported at the beginning, fantastic things are already happening on the international front –here in Mississippi. I think you’ll find that World Trade Center -Mississippi will only bolster your economic successes, if you use the tool to its fullest advantage.

 Governor Musgrove, I congratulate you and your State for embarking on this important journey, for "taking the fork in the road." I urge you to develop and implement your shared vision for Mississippi’s future – and the future of the World Trade Center-Mississippi - with the confidence that you have enjoyed great successes already – and that the World Trade Centers world-wide stand ready and willing to assist.