Message from the Chairman

Make a conscious effort to improve our exports. After all, the more we export the better off we will be in today’s Global Economy. The more we export, the better our margins and we all know there is nothing wrong with that picture.

As a country we are experiencing the biggest trade deficits in our history. While we cannot solve this problem on our own, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing all we can to improve things. The answer is no! We all can do more and we should. It is our responsibility to do what we can.

After all, the dollar is weak which makes our sale prices lower compared to our competition. Our Governments (both Federal and State) are supporting us with the Export Assistance Centers in Charleston and Wheeling, the SBA offices in Clarksburg and Charleston, the State Development Office – International Division, and don’t forget the good help available from the West Virginia Export Council.

We all stand ready to help you grow or even start your export business. Call any of us for free help.

W.Va. leaders heading to Japan - When Gov. Joe Manchin and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller travel to Japan together in May, it will be the state's most high-powered, long-distance economic development effort in almost two decades. Read the full story...

WEST VIRGINIA EXPORT GROWTH OUTPACES NATIONAL RATE - Gov. Joe Manchin announced West Virginia exports increased 37 percent from 2003 to 2004, outpacing the U.S. export growth rate of 13 percent during the same period. Read the full story…

GOVERNOR, VARIFORM ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF COMPANY'S BERKELEY COUNTY OPERATIONS - Gov. Joe Manchin and officials from Variform, Inc., announced the company’s expansion of its Berkeley County operations in the Berkeley Business Park, creating approximately 50 jobs. Read the full story…

U.S Embassies Regional Program for Automotive Aftermarket Products - The U.S. Commercial Service at American Embassies covering Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, and West Bank/Gaza are making it easier for you to explore sales opportunities in these seven markets of 180 million thru a unified Commerce Department. program.

The multi-billion dollar regional Automotive Aftermarket Products & Equipment market presents outstanding opportunities for American exporters. For country market briefs and online registration, please visit the website: or contact: Commercial Specialist, Alan Wielunski.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce Catalog Show at April Design 2005 - Tel Aviv, Israel - If you are a U.S. manufacturer or exporter of building materials and accessories for the home and office, or if you officially represent an American exporter, the U.S. Commercial Service at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv has an interesting opportunity for you.

We are organizing a catalog show for U.S. exporters at Design 2005, April 4-7, 2005, at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds. This is an extremely low-cost, yet effective way for you to evaluate interest in your product or service in Israel. Read more and register online!

GUIDE TO TRANSLATION AND LOCALIZATION - Published by Lingo Systems, this 128-page guide defines key terms, explains the various options for translating materials, identifies issues to consider when selecting a vendor, describes the localization process itself, and provides tips to control costs and improve quality. To obtain a free copy visit the website.

U.S. Commercial Service Free Trade Lead Database - View announcements from qualified international companies looking to source U.S. products and services and advertise government tender projects through our trade leads database. You will be asked to register the first time you use the database.

All of our trade leads are pre-screened by our U.S. embassy or consulate staff overseas and are provided as a free service for U.S. exporters. All leads are searchable by industry or by country.

RISING PRICES FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS - BOOK NOW TO LOCK IN LOWER FEES - The Commercial Service was mandated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to fully recover the costs of our specialized services. In order to comply, as of March 1, the prices for the International Partner Search (IPS) and background checks otherwise known as International Company Profiles (ICP) were raised.

As of April 1, we will see a price increase for the Gold Key Services and Trade Missions. Any service paid for prior to April 1, will not be affected. The IPS and ICP rate increase will be phased in over the remainder of the year. Now is the time to act if you are considering contracting a service.

For additional information, you may contact Jim Pittard, International Trade Specialist, Charleston Export Assistance Center (Tel: 304-347-5123 ext.11) or James Fitzgerald, International Trade Specialist, Wheeling Export Assistance Center (Tel: 304-243-5493).

Join us for lunch and attend a free videoconference - Doing Business in Brazil - Wednesday, March 23 from 12:00 - 3:00 pm at the Summit Conference Center in Charleston, WV.

Representatives from the US Department of Commerce in Brazil will brief you on the current news and business prospects for your industry. Take this opportunity to ask specific questions about selling your products in Brazil.

Get in early on the planning for the 2005 Trade Mission to Brazil, to be held late September. Representatives from the West Virginia Development Office will organize this business event for 6 - 8 West Virginia companies. You will have one-on-one meetings in Brazil with potential agents, distributors or end-users.

Learn about your business prospects, trade mission planning and network with other WV companies.

Brazil has a large and diversified economy that offers US companies many opportunities to export their goods and services. As Brazil’s largest single trading partner, the US enjoys a strong reputation in a variety of sectors.

Top US Export Prospects:

• Agriculture (USDA)
• Agriculture Equipment
• Aircraft and Parts
• Airports
• Automotive Parts
• E-Commerce
• Energy
• Franchising
• Highways
• Insurance
• Iron and Steel
• IT Hardware
• Medical Equipment
• Mining
• Oil and Gas
• Pharmaceuticals
• Pollution Equipment
• Ports
• Railroads
• Safety and Security
• Software(Computer)
• Telecommunications
• Travel and Tourism

Please plan to attend, and RSVP by Friday, March 18, 2005 by faxing this form to 304 558 1957, or register on-line.

Austin Amos
Convey Weigh, Inc.
110 Smiley Drive
St. Albans, WV 25177

304-201-2354 Tel.
304 755 3883 Fax
sales@conveyweigh.com

ConveyWeigh, a manufacturer of high quality, low cost conveyor belt scales is looking ahead to expanding sales world-wide. Taking advantage of many export seminars and educational opportunities in the state, Convey Weigh has enjoyed recent export success.

Their high-quality product offers solutions for both domestic and international customers at an affordable price - a selling point understood around the world. Austin Amos is currently a student at WVU’s Export Management Class, and plans to utilize his knowledge and relationships to expand their global presence.
The products were developed using over 70 years of combined experience in the belt scale weighing industry. The weighbridges are built from heavy steel, are very rigid and do not rely on idler frames or flimsy conduit as the main belt scale weighing element. Sensors and software are state of the art, user friendly and accurate. The scales are always fully assembled.

Convey Weigh plans on attending the upcoming videoconference on Doing Business in Brazil, as well as participate in the China Coal and Mining Show in October in Beijing. For more information about either of these events, contact Leslie Drake.

WORLDWIDE CAUTION - This Public Announcement is being updated to remind U.S. Citizens of the Continuing threat of TERRORIST ACTIONS and anti-American violence Against U.S. Citizens and interests overseas. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated September 10, 2004 and expires on September 7, 2005.

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. Citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program Documents, available at: http://travel.state.gov. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 TOLL-FREE in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular TOLL Line at 1-317-472-2328.

VISA WAIT TIMES - The U.S. State Department now offers information for U.S. visa applicants on the typical wait time for non-immigrant visa appointments and processing. For more information please visit the website.

U.S. EXTENDS VISA VALIDITY FOR CHINESE BUSINESS TRAVELERS - Beginning January 15, eligible Chinese nationals who wish to visit the U.S. temporarily for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2) will be issued visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity for U.S. visas issued for these purposes was 6 months and for multiple entries.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also agreed to reciprocate for U.S. citizens visiting China on temporary business and tourism visas valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged diplomatic notes on this agreement in December 2004.

While the United States and China will issue maximum validity visas to each other’s citizens, on a case-by-case basis, each side may limit the period of validity and number of entries as required by law and regulation. The mutual extension of visa reciprocity will be a significant benefit to business and tourist travelers between China and the United States.

Frequent American citizen travelers to China will save time and money with longer visa validity. Frequent Chinese travelers receiving longer validity visas will need to visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in China less often to renew visas, freeing embassy and consulate resources to adjudicate other visa applications more quickly.

In 2004, the U.S. Embassy and the four U.S. consulates in China issued 228,600 nonimmigrant visas. Of these, 173,140, or more than 77 percent, were temporary visas for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2).

EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS DOING BUSINESS IN ISRAEL? - The U.S. Commercial Service at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv is working hard on behalf of U.S. companies who may have experienced, or indeed are experiencing "non-tariff trade barriers" in Israel. Besides fielding individual cases as they arise, the Commercial Service has helped create two multilateral bodies in order to find solutions to ongoing issues and problems.

U.S. firms – or any authorized Israeli representative of a U.S. company who has experienced or is presently experiencing any technical standards certification, regulatory, IPR or tendering issue(s) that may be impeding sales of products or services in Israel, or that is interfering with successful bidding on Israeli government tenders, should contact the American Embassy in Tel Aviv. Contact information is as follows:

Commercial Officer John Coronado
Email: John.Coronado@mail.doc.gov
Tel: 972-(0)3-519-7327
Fax: 972-3-510-7215

Commercial Specialist Alan Wielunski
Email: Alan.Wielunski@mail.doc.gov
Tel: 972-(0)3-519-7390
Fax: 972-3-510-7215

Alert: New Twist on Old Scam - For more than two decades, authorities have battled an international mail scheme commonly known as the "Nigerian Bank Scam." In its traditional form, the scam involves a promise that an individual will pay the victim from a large pool of money being held overseas if the victim first sends a smaller amount of money as "security." The victim sends the money but then never again hears from the sender.

Recently, a new twist on the old system has emerged. In this variation, the victim receives a cashier's check in the mail or via overnight delivery. The check is for a large sum of money from what appears to be a nationally recognized banking institution.

No explanation accompanies the check, but the victim may attempt to deposit it into his or her bank account. Should the victim's bank accept the deposit, the check is routed to the financial institution of origin, where it is discovered that the account has been closed. The check is then forwarded to the original holder of the closed account, who now has the victim's banking information.

It can take some time for the victim to realize that the integrity of his or her bank account has been compromised. For more information visit the website.