International Business Committee
Transportation Committee
Government Affairs Committee

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMITTEE

MISSION: To recommend policy positions and programs to strengthen Louisiana's development of foreign trade, investment and international services.

The February 7 Committee meeting featured as guest speakers Dorothy Nelson, President of the Foreign Relations Association, and Consular Corps guests Gonzalo Calderon, Consul General of Costa Rica, and Philip Lorio, III, Honorary Consul of Austria.

The April 4 Committee meeting featured as guest speakers Ed Sherman, Dean of the Tulane Law School, who spoke on the new Latin American Law Institute; José Cruz, Consul General of Ecuador and the new Dean of the Consular Corps; and Voyce Durling-Jones, Honorary Consul General of Liberia and Vice Dean of the Consular Corps.

The June 6 Committee meeting featured Arturo Puente, the new Consul General of Mexico, who gave a presentation on the current economic and political situation in Mexico and Arnaldo Partesotti, Honorary Consul of Italy.

The September 5 Committee meeting featured Patrick Steenberge, who delivered a presentation on Global Football and the Global Jr. Championship, an NFL-sanctioned event that features four teams of teenage football players representing the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Europe. This year’s championship will take place in at the Hahnville High School Stadium in Boutte on January 23 and 26, prior to the Super Bowl on January 27. Kenneth Zezulka, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, was also a special guest at the September Committee meeting.

The October 10 meeting featured as guests Hideto Mitamura, Consul General of Japan, Emilio Suarez Clavijo, Consul General of Colombia, and Roland Timmerman, Honorary Consul of Belgium.

The December 5 meeting featured Gertrudis Valasquez de Lacayo, Consul General of Nicaragua, who reported on Nicaragua’s recent election, and Committee member Nick Mueller, President of the National D-Day Museum, who reported on the grand opening of museum’s Pacific Wing on Friday, December 7.

For a complete list of speeches of trade programs in 2001 click here. 

On January 5, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon briefing for 62 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Profiting from Trade and Investment in Africa" featuring Dr. Willene Johnson, U.S. Executive Director of the African Development Bank.

On January 11, the WTC sponsored a luncheon seminar for 30 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Going Global: Getting Started in Exporting and Importing," conducted by Ruperto Chavarri, Director of the Louisiana International Trade Center, and WTC Managing Director Eugene Schreiber.

On January 26, the WTC sponsored a luncheon briefing for 35 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Doing Business in Switzerland" featuring Walter Simmen, Consul General of Switzerland in Houston, and Scot Orgish, Commercial Officer for the Consulate.

On January 30, the WTC and other organizations held a breakfast briefing for 26 participants in the 29^th floor Executive Office on "Economic/Business Prospects for Argentina," featuring James Cheek, a retired Foreign Service Officer who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina.

On February 5, the WTC commenced its Spring Language Classes, conducted by Alpha Tech instructors. A total of 42 students enrolled for the 11-week session, 33 of whom were WTC members. Classes in Spanish, Italian, and French were offered.

On February 8, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a breakfast briefing for 45 participants at the WTC on "Outlook on U.S.–Latin America Relations Under the Bush Administration," featuring Cresencio (Cris) Arcos, Regional Vice President for International Public Affairs, Latin America and Canada, AT&T Corporation. Mr. Arcos is a former Foreign Service Officer who served as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, among other assignments during a distinguished 25-year career.

On February 13, the WTC and the University of New Orleans’ Center Austria held a wine and cheese evening reception in the WTC’s Executive Offices for 40 visiting Austrian students from the University of Innsbruck, who were in New Orleans for a four-week program at UNO.

On February 14, the WTC sponsored a luncheon seminar for 68 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "U.S. Tax Incentives: Benefiting from the New Foreign Sales Corporation Replacement Legislation", conducted by Edward K. Dwyer, a local CPA.

On February 16, the WTC sponsored a luncheon seminar in the Plimsoll Club for 26 participants on "Using INCOTERMS 2000 Correctly" conducted by Ruperto Chavarri, Director of the Louisiana International Trade Center, and WTC Managing Director Eugene J. Schreiber.

On March 2, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 120 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Louisiana – Where We’re Headed" featuring Hon. John J. Hainkel, Jr., President of the Louisiana Senate.

On March 8, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon seminar for 83 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "The Expanding Role of Women in International Affairs" to commemorate International Women’s Day. The luncheon featured Amb. Mary Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State and the highest- ranking career diplomat in the Foreign Service.

On March 13, the WTC held a breakfast seminar for 21 participants at the WTC on "Exporting and Importing: The Rules You Need to Know," conducted by Donna Bade and Thomas Johnson, attorneys with Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg, LLC in Chicago.

On March 19, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 43 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Moving Toward a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas," featuring the Hon. Luis J. Lauredo, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of the American States.

On March 20, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon seminar for 76 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Doing Business with Nicaragua," featuring the Hon. O.P. Garza, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua.

On March 23, the WTC and 10 other organizations held the annual C. Alvin Bertel Award luncheon for 226 participants in the Plimsoll Club to honor Captain Stephen Rochon, Captain of the Port of New Orleans, U. S. Coast Guard for his significant contributions to the Greater New Orleans port area.

On March 26 - April 6, the WTC, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, the University of New Orleans, and UNO’s National Ports and Waterways Institute sponsored the 17^th annual International Program for Port Planning and Management (IPPPM) for 42 participants representing 22 countries in the WTC’s Executive Offices. IPPPM is an intensive training program that offers maritime industry leaders from around the world the opportunity to learn the latest port operation, planning, and management techniques. The 12-day training program was held at the WTC and concluded with a commencement ceremony on the evening of April 6 in the Plimsoll Club. Over the past 16 years, 485 participants from 97 countries have graduated from IPPPM.

On March 28, the WTC sponsored a luncheon seminar for 30 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Using the New Shippers’ Export Declaration (SED)," conducted by WTC Managing Director Eugene Schreiber and Kurt Kapota, Branch Manager of Panalpina, Inc.

On March 30, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a breakfast briefing for 27 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Technology Issues in Doing Business with Latin America" featuring Jorge Garcia, Practice Manager leading the E|Architecture consulting practice at Sprint E|Solutions.

On April 10, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 130 members and their guests in the Plimsoll Club for "A Salute to Ambassador Lindy Boggs" in recognition of her three years of distinguished service as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican.

On April 12, the WTC hosted a luncheon in the Plimsoll Club for Mr. Sveinn Bjornsson, Minister-Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C.

On April 17, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a dinner program in the Plimsoll Club for 54 participants on "Doing Business with Honduras" featuring Hon. Frank Almaguer, U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.

On April 20, the WTC, IndoSuccess, and other organizations sponsored an expanded luncheon seminar for 54 participants on "Doing Business in the Vast Indonesian Market" featuring as speakers the Hon. Dr. R.M. Talib Puspokusumo, S.H., Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Houston; Dr. David Lowry, Vice President of Social & Community Affairs, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold; and Dr. Joseph Stimpfl, Director for International Education at Webster University, St. Louis.

On April 27, the Export-Import Bank held an all-day "Trade Finance Seminar for Lenders" for 19 participants in the WTC’s 29^th floor Board Room.

On May 2, the WTC, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Walk Haydel & Associates, and Whitney Bank sponsored a luncheon program for 40 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Outlook on Mexico: Opportunities for Louisiana Businesses" featuring Dale Slaght, the U.S. Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

On May 11, the WTC, the Corporate Council on Africa, and other organizations sponsored an all-day conference for 120 participants at the WTC on "Into Africa" featuring the Ambassadors to the U.S. from Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Lesotho. The conference also included presentations by representatives of the African Development Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Congressman William Jefferson delivered the luncheon address.

On May 18, the Consulate General of Japan, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and the WTC sponsored a luncheon program for 111 participants on "International Refugees: A Growing Worldwide Concern" featuring the Hon. Sadako Ogata, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

On May 22, as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s World Trade Week, the WTC, the Consulate General of Spain, and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 30 participants on "Doing Business with Spain" featuring Michael Liikala, Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. (A ceremony rededicating the Spanish Plaza in front of the WTC building was held the prior evening.)

On May 24, as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s World Trade Week, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 84 participants on "The Global Outlook on Air Cargo" featuring Donald Laurvick, Vice President of International Business Development for UPS.

On the June 5, the World Trade Center commenced its summer session of foreign language classes taught by Alpha Tech instructors. German, Spanish, and Italian were offered.

On July 19, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 60 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Military Awareness" describing the role and economic impact of the military branches in the New Orleans area, featuring Rear Admiral John P. McLaughlin, Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force, United States Naval Reserve; Colonel Henry A. Moak, Chief of Staff, 377th Theatre Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve; Colonel John G. Robinson, Executive Support Staff Officer, Louisiana National Guard; Colonel Barry J. Statia, Assistant Chief of Staff, Marine Forces Reserve; Colonel Timothy W. Wroten, Commander, 926th Logistics Group, U.S. Air Force; and Lieutenant Commander Andrew Norris, Personnel Action Team Leader, Marine Safety Office, U.S. Coast Guard.

From July 3-7 a 34-member Louisiana Trade and Tourism Mission visited Managua to promote new business between Louisiana and Nicaragua. The mission was organized by the WTC at the invitation of the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, O.P. Garza, who visited New Orleans in March. The principal sponsor of the mission was the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. On July 4, members of the Louisiana delegation were special guests at Ambassador Garza’s Fourth of July reception for 500 prominent Nicaraguan government and business leaders. The reception featured Louisiana cuisine specially prepared by Chef Roy Lyons of the Frog City Café in Rayne and Louisiana music by Joe Simon’s Jazz Quartet. On July 5, the American Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua hosted a Cajun luncheon seminar for 60 Nicaraguan businessmen and women presented by the Louisiana delegation on "Doing Business with Louisiana," which was followed by one-on-one meetings to discuss specific opportunities with their Nicaraguan counterparts. The mission members were also briefed on a wide variety of business opportunities and economic development projects which are underway in Nicaragua.

On August 20 the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 77 participants on "Venezuela, the United States, and Global Energy Security" featuring H.E. Ignacio Arcaya, Ambassador of Venezuela to the U.S. The program was held at the Windsor Court Hotel due to the Plimsoll Club being closed for staff vacations. The WTC also organized a productive four-day agenda for Ambassador and Mrs. Arcaya’s visit to New Orleans.

On August 29, the WTC and other organizations sponsored a luncheon program for 58 participants on "Jamaica-Louisiana Opportunities for Trade & Tourism" featuring the Right Honorable P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Mayor Marc Morial introduced the Prime Minister at the luncheon. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a delegation including Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Mining and Energy and Carlton Davis, Cabinet Secretary and Chairman of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute. (The luncheon program was held at the Windsor Court due to the Plimsoll Club being closed for staff vacations.)

On September 4, the WTC commenced its Fall Language Classes, conducted by Alpha Tech instructors. A total of 52 students registered for the 11-week session, 25 of whom were WTC members. Spanish, French, and Japanese were offered.

On September 7, the WTC and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development sponsored a "Retirement Salute" luncheon for 48 participants in the Plimsoll Club honoring Gilbert "Whitey" Lagasse, Regional Manager of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

On September 11, the WTC cancelled the scheduled luncheon in the Plimsoll Club to honor Mr. Yves Richard, the President of EADS Sogerma Services of France, recipient of the World Trade Center’s 2001 Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Business, due to the tragic events in New York and Washington. However, WTC Managing Director Eugene Schreiber and French-American Chamber of Commerce Co-Chair Donald Hoffman presented the award to Mr. Richard at a small ceremony at the Meridian Hotel. The award is presented to the head of a foreign corporation that has made a major investment in Louisiana which has resulted in the creation of new jobs and/or actual or potential increase in international trade. This year’s award was in recognition of the major investment which EADS Sogerma Services has made in the EADS Aeroframe Services, L.L.C., based at the Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, and the resulting economic development and international growth for Louisiana through its new maintenance facility to maintain, repair, and overhaul Airbus aircraft based in North and South America.

On September 25, WTC President Lauricella bestowed the first President’s Award for Distinguished International Service on Justice Revius O. Ortique, Jr. at a special luncheon for 129 participants at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club. This new award, recently established by the WTC Executive Committee, is conferred upon a member of the World Trade Center in those years when the current President recommends an individual who has achieved "exceptional international distinction in the cause of world peace, trade and understanding."

On September 28, the WTC sponsored a comprehensive luncheon briefing in the Plimsoll Club for 81 participants on the proposed Millennium Port Project by William Coyle, President of the Millennium Port Commission, and Thomas Sands, the Commission’s Interim Executive Director.

On October 4, the WTC and the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter held a luncheon program for 50 participants in the Plimsoll Club for a "American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Benefit" which featured remarks by Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Major General James Livingston USMC (Ret.) and performances of patriotic music by pianist Ronnie Kole and vocal accompaniment by Harvey Koch.

On October 11, the Historic New Orleans Collection sponsored a lecture by Dr. S. Frederick Starr on "Afghanistan’s People, Politics, and Religion – A Rubik’s Cube with no Solution?" In conjunction with HNOC, the WTC is selling a videotape of Dr. Starr’s presentation.

On October 14 Membership Director Natalie Rideau represented the WTC New Orleans at the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The meeting was attended by a total of 230 representatives from WTCs worldwide. As a follow-up to the General Assembly, WTC New Orleans will be hosting the North American World Trade Centers Regional meeting January 17-19, 2002.

On October 19, the WTC, the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, and the Brazil-U.S. Business Council sponsored a morning seminar and luncheon program for 103 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Outlook for Brazil-Louisiana Business". The Hon. Roberto Jaguaribe, Deputy Chief of Mission with the Embassy of Brazil in Washington, D.C., and Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson were the featured luncheon speakers. Preceding the keynote luncheon addresses were two private sector panels on doing business in Brazil. The first panel highlighted the success stories of Louisiana companies operating in Brazil, and the second featured executives from Delta Air Lines, Ernst & Young, and the Castro, Barros, Sobral, Vidigal e Gomes law firm in Brazil.

On November 9, the WTC, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and Louisiana International Trade Center sponsored a luncheon seminar for 17 participants in the WTC’s 29^th floor Executive Offices on "Going Global: Getting Paid in a Changed Global Environment" conducted by Jan W. Tanner, Vice President of Hibernia National Bank.

On November 14, the WTC and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development sponsored a luncheon program for 34 participants in the Plimsoll Club on "Corporate and Personal Security Abroad in the Changed Global Environment" featuring Juan Valadez, an international security consultant and retired senior U.S. intelligence officer specializing in international security and counterterrorism.

On November 16, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (this year’s principal sponsor), the City of New Orleans, MetroVision, the New Orleans International Airport, the Port of New Orleans, and the World Trade Center sponsored the annual Dinner Dance Honoring the Consular Corps for 130 participants in the Plimsoll Club. The Jimmy Maxwell Band provided the music. That afternoon, the Department of Economic Development and MetroVision conducted, in conjunction with other organizations, an internationally-oriented economic development briefing for 19 members of the Consular Corps, including those in attendance from Houston who cover Louisiana.

On November 27, representatives from the WTC, Louisiana Tax Free Shopping, Loyola University’s College of Business Administration International Business Programs, and the New Orleans Regional Chamber conducted a briefing in the WTC’s 29^th floor Board Room for a group of 10 visiting diplomats from East Timor. The diplomats were on a study tour of the U.S. under the auspices of the State Department and the Asia Foundation.

On November 28, the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) in Washington, D.C., the WTC, District Export Council, and other organizations co-sponsored an all-day training seminar for 20 participants on "The Essentials of Export Controls" conducted by Jerome M. Greenwell, Chief of Regulations, Outreach and Education Branch of the Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau; Gene Christiansen, an Export Licensing Officer with the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Angela Robinson, an Export Administration Specialist with the Department of Commerce.

On December 6, the WTC, the Consulate of the Philippines, and other organizations sponsored a breakfast briefing for 50 participants in the WTC’s Executive Offices on the 29^th floor on "Doing Business in the Philippines" featuring H.E. Albert del Rosario, the new Ambassador of the Philippines to the U.S.

On December 6, H.E. Michael Thawley, Ambassador of Australia to the U.S., was the guest speaker at the Government Affairs Committee meeting, which included additional members of the WTC Board and other advisory committees. The Ambassador spoke on international terrorism, the global economy, and trade and investments opportunities with Australia for Louisiana companies.

On December 8, the WTC, the Board of Trade, and the Port of New Orleans sponsored a special dinner at Antoine’s Restaurant to honor Rt. Hon. James Bolger, Ambassador of New Zealand to the U.S., and Mrs. Bolger. Ambassador Bolger was previously Prime Minister of New Zealand.

On December 9, the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans, in partnership with the National D-Day Museum, the Consulate General of Japan, and the World Trade Center, held an afternoon Symposium in the Plimsoll Club on U.S.-Japan Relations Since World War II. The symposium was an ancillary event of the opening of the Pacific Wing of the National D-Day Museum two days earlier. Leading scholars who addressed the forum included Dr. Stephen Ambrose, the well-known author, historian, and founder of the National D-Day Museum; Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Director of UNO’s Eisenhower Center for American Studies; Major General Perry M. Smith (Ret.), President of Visionary Leadership; Major General Yoshinago Hayashi (Ret.), Director of the Military History Department at the National Institute for Defense Studies in Japan; Dr. Allan Millett, Professor of Military History at Ohio State University; Ambassador Kazuo Nukazawa of Josai International University in Japan; and Dr. James Auer, Director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies at Vanderbilt University.

The WTC’s Internet Strategy Task Force was again chaired by Carolyn McLellan in 2001. The stated mission of the Task Force was to create an Internet strategy for the WTC by reviewing and recommending specific steps to enhance international trade, membership services, and revenues for the WTC, without a high degree of risk. The WTC website (www.wtc-no.org) receives on average 50,000 hits per month.

• Since January 30 the Plimsoll Club website is now administered in-house, instead of using an outside contractor. The site retains its Plimsoll.com domain name.

• Visitors can now be added to a WTC e-mail list for information on upcoming programs by adding their e-mail address on the Programs page. On a related note, members can add their e-mail addresses on the Members-Only page to receive the Plimsoll Club’s daily menu specials

• The WTC’s new Home Page was redesigned to facilitate navigation and give the visitor a more attractive and streamlined entrance to the rest of the website. The new design highlights one corporate member each month with the placement of its company logo and a link to its site. Visitors are also encouraged to access a page on the WTC site listing all of the WTC’s corporate members with logos and links to their sites.

• Because WTC New Orleans received numerous expressions of interest and concern about the welfare of the people who worked in the New York twin towers, a notice was posted on the WTC New Orleans Home Page from September 18 to November 28 expressing sympathy to the victims of the tragedies, as well as directing visitors to two well-established websites (helping.org and libertyunites.org) for donations and more information.

• In an effort to drive more traffic to the WTC website, thereby promoting its activities and membership benefits, visitors to the site have been given the ability to easily e-mail any page on the WTC site to a friend by clicking on the "E-mail this page to a friend" link on the bottom of nearly every page.

• Organizations sponsoring a WTC trade program are now being given the option of placing their company’s logo and/or link to their company’s homepage on the WTC’s on-line program flyer.

• An e-mail database of past registrants to WTC trade programs has been created to further promote upcoming trade events.

• A link was added to the WTC Home Page which enables visitors to either automatically make the WTC Home Page the starting page in their browser or give them simple instructions on how to do so, depending on which browser they are using.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

MISSION: To recommend policy and projects which will increase usage of Louisiana’s transportation system and increase public understanding of the system’s impact on the state’s economic development.

On January 10, WTC President Hank Lauricella chaired the meeting of the Bertel Award Selection Committee, comprised of the presidents or their designees of 11 international trade and maritime organizations. The group selected as the 2001 recipient for the Bertel Award Capt. Stephen Rochon, Captain of the Port of New Orleans, U.S. Coast Guard, and Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office in New Orleans, "for his contribution to the advancement of the Greater New Orleans port area." He was presented the award at a special luncheon held at the Plimsoll Club on March 23. It was the first time in the history of the Bertel Award, which was established in 1967, that it was presented to an officer of any military branch. Capt. Rochon, who is a member of the Transportation Committee and was nominated by the WTC and the Steamship Association of Louisiana, was selected primarily on the basis of the superior leadership he exercised during the prompt and successful cleanup of the massive oil spill in the Mississippi River created by the tanker Westchester; with a spill of 13,000 barrels of crude oil, it was the largest domestic spill by a tanker since the Exxon Valdez incident.

At its February 5 meeting, the Committee voted to reiterate and broaden its earlier position in favor of statewide action in accordance with the recommendations of the Latin American Trade and Transportation Study. WTC President Francis E. Lauricella had sent a letter to Governor Foster on January 25 urging his support for the transportation infrastructure developments that will be necessary to accommodate the increased trade with Latin America that is predicted over the next several decades.

Also at the February 5 Committee meeting, Justice Revius Ortique, Chairman of the New Orleans Aviation Board, reported on the MAGLEV project. New Orleans did not make the list of finalists for a $1 billion grant from the federal government to build the nations first MAGLEV system. The two finalists were a 47-mile system in Pittsburgh and a 40-mile system connecting Baltimore to Washington, D.C. A total of $5 million in federal and local money has already been spent on the project, and there are plans to continue studying and hopefully implement the idea.

A special meeting of the Transportation Committee was held on February 12 for the purpose of voting on a motion made at the February 5 regular Committee meeting. The motion recommended to the Executive Committee that the WTC join the Pilot Users Group of Louisiana (PUGL) as an Associate Member. After hearing considerable discussion from both sides on this issue, the Committee members present voted against the motion by 11-8 (with 5 members abstaining).

At its April 2 meeting, Mr. Michael Stout, Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, updated the Committee on the Industrial Canal Lock Replacement Project, which has been planned since 1956. It is highly congested and too small for modern traffic. Mr. Stout stated that the new lock will be 110 feet wide, 1,200 feet long, and 36 feet deep.

Also on April 2, the Committee endorsed the Government Affairs Committee recommendation that the WTC send a letter to the Louisiana Congressional Delegation regarding the proposed budgetary cuts of various federal government agencies crucial to the Louisiana’s international trade and transportation sectors: the Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, Department of Commerce, Export-Import Bank; and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

At its May 7 meeting, at the recommendation of Mr. Gerald Hutchison, Public Belt Railroad, the Transportation Committee approved a resolution in support of H.R. 1020, the Railroad Track Modernization Act of 2001, authorizing a general fund appropriation of $350 million per year for three years for capital grants to rehabilitate, preserve or improve track, including roadbed and bridges, of Class II and III railroads to a standard of safety and efficiency for handling 286,000-pound rail cars.

Also on May 7, Mr. Thomas Sharon, General Manager and Vice President of Stolthaven, New Orleans, gave a presentation to the Committee on the first public terminal in the area built for specialty product handling and fast turn-around on large parcel tanker activities. Mr. Sharon reported that Phase I of the project was scheduled for operation on June 1. The facility will have 38 bulk liquid storage tanks ranging from 8,000 to 50,000 barrels with a total storage capacity of 849,000 barrels. With the completion of Phase I, 120 to 140 ships are expected annually, as well as 100 barges, 4,000 railcars, and 2,000 trucks. Full expansion of the project will increase the facility to 88 tanks and 1,700,000 barrels of storage capacity. A total of 300 to 400 ships are expected a year, plus over 200 barges, more than 10,000 tank cars, and 4,000 trucks.

On June 4, Mr. Erik F. Johnsen, President of International Shipholding Corporation, gave an interesting presentation to the Committee on Louisiana’s evolving transportation industry and its ports over the years. Mr. Johnsen also discussed C.G. Railway’s new rail ferry service between Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and Mobile, Alabama.

On July 9, Ms. Glenda Jeansonne, Executive Director of the Louisiana Airport Authority (LAA), and Mr. Winfield Beyea, Vice President of Air Transportation with the URS Corporation (a consultant to LAA) made a detailed presentation on the proposed Louisiana International Intermodal Transportation Center and Airport to be located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. By way of background, Act 508 of the 1992 Regular Legislative Session created the Louisiana Airport Authority for the specific purpose of securing a site and constructing a new state-of-the-art Louisiana international intermodal transportation center. The primary objective of the center is to accommodate new water, air, and surface freight traffic that is being generated by the rapid growth in e-commerce and by other changes in the distribution and logistics industries that are increasing demand for time-definite transportation services.

At the September 10 meeting, Dr. Eric I. Kalivoda, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, made a presentation on the Latin America Trade and Transportation Study (LATTS) which was commissioned by the Southeastern Transportation Alliance, comprised of 13 southern states (including Louisiana) and Puerto Rico. The study evaluates Louisiana’s transportation needs associated with international trade and, specifically, Latin American trade. (Mr. Kalivoda’s powerpoint presentation is available online at www.dotd.state.gov.us).

On October 18 the WTC Executive Committee slightly amended and approved a position recommended by the Transportation Committee related to the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO). The original motion was submitted by Ms. Maggie Woodruff, New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce. The WTC’s final position, which has been conveyed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, states that the World Trade Center would support modification of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet when the deep-draft lock replacement on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal is operational, unless maritime shipping and draft requirement conditions change to allow the reduction of depth in the MRGO.

At its December 3 meeting, the Transportation Committee approved a WTC position related to the appointment process for the Millennium Port Commission. The position was developed from a motion originally made by Mr. John Bertel, Hayes/Dockside, Inc. The approved position, which would amend L.R.S. 34:3474, C. (1), was endorsed on December 6 by the WTC Government Affairs Committee and has been forwarded to the Executive Committee for final approval. The position recommends that the Millennium Port Authority legislation be modified so that persons appointed as voting Commissioners following the completion of the terms of appointment of the present Commissioners shall be appointed by the Governor for fixed terms and not be subject to removal by the Governor except for cause.

Hon. Arturo Puente, the Consul General of Mexico in New Orleans and Mr. José Antonio Rivas, the Mexican Trade Commissioner in Miami, were special guests at the Committee’s December 3 meeting. Mr. Rivas outlined some of the business opportunities that are available in Mexico and stated that both his office and the Mexican Consulate would like to work together with local business interests to develop increased Louisiana – Mexico commercial ties.

Also at the December 3 Committee meeting, Mr. David Kane, the new Transportation Cluster Director with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, described the new cluster concept at DED which focuses on nine key business areas emphasizing Louisiana’s strengths. He said he will concentrate his efforts regarding logistics and transportation on integrating business processes across boundaries between corporations and organizations along all supply chains for the purpose of adding value.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

• Reorganization of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development – The Louisiana Department of Economic Development introduced a new organizational structure in July incorporating a "cluster" approach to business attraction. Cluster specialists have been hired to manage and promote the development of 9 major existing industry sectors in Louisiana. At the recommendation of the WTC Government Affairs Committee, President Francis Lauricella sent a letter to the Legislature strongly advocating that a greater role for international trade and investment promotion be reflected in the proposed reorganization of DED. Mr. Lauricella also testified to this effect before the Louisiana Senate Commerce Committee.

• Louisiana’s Transportation Infrastructure Improvements – The Government Affairs Committee endorsed the Transportation Committee recommendation that resulted in President Lauricella sending a letter on January 25 to Governor Mike Foster stressing the need for a long-term strategy and funding to further develop Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure in order to compete with other southern states as the main corridor to the Latin American market. The points made in the letter support the longstanding efforts of Dr. Kam Movassaghi, Louisiana's Secretary of Transportation. WTC President Lauricella subsequently sent a letter to Governor Mike Foster supporting a special session during which important transportation infrastructure legislation could be reviewed.

• Renaming of Louisiana Senate and House Commerce Committees to Incorporate the Word "International" – Early in the year Senate President John Hainkel expressed his willingness to rename the Senate Commerce Committee to incorporate the term "International Business." He said he would also work with Speaker of the House Charles DeWitt to accomplish this in the House as well. On March 2, WTC President Lauricella sent a letter to Sen. Hainkel and Speaker DeWitt recommending these name changes in order to have the Louisiana Legislature emphasize the importance of the global economy and its potential to the entire state. This action would send a signal to the rest of the country and the world at large that Louisiana is focused on developing its relationships with all of its global trading and investing partners.
  
• Millennium Port Project – WTC President Lauricella sent a letter to the members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation thanking them for their support of the proposed Millennium Port project and efforts to assist in the search for port study funding, and also a letter to Governor Foster urging him to take the necessary action to move the project forward as expeditiously as possible. On September 28, the WTC hosted a subscription luncheon program on the Millennium Port in order to increase public awareness about the project; the featured speakers were Millennium Port Authority President Billy Coyle and Interim Director Tom Sands. At its December 6 meeting, the Government Affairs Committee voted unanimously to endorse the Transportation Committee’s recommendation to the Executive Committee that the Millennium Port Authority legislation be modified so that voting Commissioners be appointed by the Governor for fixed terms, instead of serving at the discretion of the Governor.
   
• Inner Navigation Harbor Canal and Mississippi River Gulf Outlet – On October 18 the WTC Executive Committee slightly amended a position which was recommended by the Transportation Committee and endorsed by the Government Affairs Committee related to the Inner Navigation Canal and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO). The final WTC position, which has been conveyed to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, states that the WTC would support modification of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet when the deep-draft lock replacement on the Inner Harbor Canal is operational, unless maritime shipping and draft requirement conditions change to allow the reduction of depth in the MRGO.

• U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) / Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) - President Bush attended the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Canada, on April 20 to 22 to discuss future plans for a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). On May 10, the President announced his international trade agenda and emphasized that he was seeking to gain U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA–formerly known as "fast track") from Congress in order to commence FTAA negotiations, as well as a number of other free trade initiatives. At the recommendation of the Government Affairs Committee, the WTC reaffirmed its longstanding position in support of TPA, and President Lauricella conveyed this updated WTC position to the members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation. This vital legislation was approved by the narrowest of margins in the U.S. House of Representatives (215 to 214) on December 6; the Senate is expected to vote on it early in 2002. (All of Louisiana’s delegation voted for the legislation in the House.) TPA is needed for the President to negotiate a number of important bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement of the Americas.

• U.S.-Vietnam Trade Agreement - The United States and Vietnam signed an agreement on July 13, 2000 to normalize trade relations between the two countries for the first time since the Vietnam War. Subsequently, both the U.S. Congress and Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified the agreement, which is expected to take effect on January 1, 2002. Under the agreement, tariffs on Vietnamese goods entering the U.S. will drop from rates averaging 40% to roughly 3%, and Vietnam has also agreed to open its market to U.S. goods and services. (The WTC previously supported normalized trade with Vietnam.)

• Possible U.S. Restrictions on Steel Imports – The U.S. Department of Commerce began investigating in February the effects that steel imports have on the capacity and availability of U.S.-made steel products and employment. The Bush Administration is currently considering a recommendation by the International Trade Commission to impose restrictions on steel imports into the U.S. Steel is the single largest commodity moving through the Port of New Orleans. The WTC opposes protectionist trade policy, including proposed restrictions on steel imports. At the recommendation of the Government Affairs Committee, the WTC Executive Committee authorized President Lauricella to send a letter to the Louisiana Congressional delegation endorsing a letter sent by the Port of New Orleans to the delegation expressing opposition to restrictions on imports. Steel represents 25% of all cargo moving through the Port of New Orleans. While most commodities shipped through the Port have increased slightly this year, total general steel cargo has fallen by 35% in 2001. Further decreases in steel imports would severely affect Port business.

• China and Taiwan’s Admittance to the World Trade Organization – China and Taiwan were approved in November for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China Act passed by Congress in 2000 led to China being admitted to the WTO. The WTC previously supported PNTR status for China.

• Mexico Trucking Regulations – The 2002 federal transportation appropriations bill will allow Mexican truck traffic into the U.S.; however, U.S. safety officials will inspect the sites of half of Mexican truck carriers with four or more trucks. Earlier efforts to pass the legislation were stalled over a dispute to bar Mexican truck traffic on U.S. roads. According to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexican trucks have full access to U.S. highways, and President Bush previously vowed to veto any transportation legislation that would limit this access.

• Proposed Budget Reductions for U.S. Agencies – The WTC took a position against proposed budget cuts for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ex-Im Bank, Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, and other U.S. Government agencies, which could adversely affect Louisiana’s international trade and transportation sectors. In the aftermath of September 11, however, it appears that these agencies will not have their budgets reduced for the coming fiscal year.

On October 11, Mr. Juan Valadez, an international security consultant and retired U.S. intelligence officer who is a WTC member, made a presentation to the Committee on security risks and safeguards for international travelers and businesses. Committee members agreed that this information would be highly useful to the general WTC membership and others in the international business community. Therefore, on November 14, Mr. Valadez spoke at a subscription luncheon on "Corporate and Personal Security Abroad in the Changed Global Environment." (The text of Mr. Valadez’s November 14 luncheon address in the Plimsoll Club is posted on the WTC website at www.wtc-no.org/speakers.)

On December 6, the Government Affairs Committee hosted H.E. Michael J. Thawley, the Ambassador of Australia to the U.S. as a special guest at its scheduled luncheon meeting. Amb. Thawley was visiting New Orleans for the opening of the Pacific Wing of the National D-Day Museum. He addressed the Committee on the current international situation, especially Australia’s role in the war against terrorism, the global economic downturn, Australia-U.S. relations, and an overview of the Australian economy and the opportunities for Louisiana companies.