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West Virginia World Trader October 2004

Council News   In This Issue Council News State Notes Federal Update Exporter Profile Featured Market Global Roundup See our Sponsors! Click on sponsor links to learn more Visit This Sponsor Visit This Sponsor Visit This Sponsor Visit This Sponsor Visit This Sponsor Please click here if you would like to become a sponsor Add/Remove Enter your email address in the box below to be added to the West Virginia Export Council newsletter mailing list. Unsubscribe by entering your email address and clicking on Remove: Add Remove Message from the Chairman We are just days away from the National DEC conference to be held in Memphis from October 19 – 21st. I hope to see many of you there. For those that can’t attend, we will provide information on the conference highlights in an upcoming issue of the newsletter. I understand Elvis may make an appearance, so if you’re wavering on attendance an Elvis sighting makes the conference worthwhile. The WV Export Council held the annual export award ceremonies in conjunction with the Governor on October 7th. We also distributed the Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry award to 25 companies. These companies collected a total of 45 currency awards representing new markets in which they have completed export sales. It is a delight to see so many WV companies getting involved in the export business and further proof that West Virginia is a strong competitor in the global economy. We believe a lot of people have contributed to this economic success story – including the WVDO International Division with Steve Spence and his wonderful crew, the U.S. DOC Export Assistance Centers with Jim and his crew in Charleston and James in the Wheeling office, many great people in various legislative offices, and our own efforts on the WVEC. Above and beyond these efforts, we are fortunate for Governor, Bob Wise, who truly made Exporting expansion part of his agenda over the past four years. To express our gratitude, the WVEC presented Governor Bob Wise with the Ambassador's Export Award at the conclusion of the awards ceremony. While the National DEC Conference and the Governor's Export Award Ceremonies mark the end to a very good year, they also mark the beginning of an even more exciting new year. We intend to redouble efforts and make WV and our nation even stronger globally with your help, support, and participation. TOP State Notes GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES WEST VIRGINIA’S EXPORTERS This month Gov. Bob Wise commended West Virginia’s companies that export their products across the globe, presenting 25 with the Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry and two with Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Exporting. ”International trade is one of West Virginia’s strongest economic successes, representing nearly $2.4 billion last year,” Wise said. “West Virginia exported $1.75 billion in products during the first six months of 2004 compared to $1.2 billion in exports during the first six months of 2003, a 46.79 percent increase that exceeded the U.S. growth of 13.6 percent during the same period.” The Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry is based on the tradition of displaying the first dollar a business earns. Wise created the market entry award in 2001 to represent the first peso, mark or other currency a West Virginia exporter earned in an international market. To view the complete list of winners click here. The Governor’s Excellence in Exporting awards, established in 1983 and presented by the governor and the West Virginia Export Council, honor companies and business professionals for their leadership and success in the state’s exporting efforts. Tom Moore, president of The Moore Co. in Charleston, received the Governor's Service Award for Excellence in Exporting. Moore is also treasurer of the West Virginia Export Council. Tabor Machine, Bluefield, received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting. TOP Federal Update North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Update: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. NAICS will reshape the way we view our changing economy. NAICS was developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in statistics about business activity across North America. For additional information on NAICS and to identify the codes for your industry, you may wish to visit: http://www.census.gov/ Access Eastern Mediterranean Program - The U.S. Commercial Service announces a new, cost-effective and coordinated way to promote your products and services to a regional market of 180 million consumers in seven countries. The Access Eastern Mediterranean (AEM) Program is a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative, created and managed by the U.S. Commercial Service offices in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and West Bank/Gaza (with options for Morocco). The basic service is a roughly month-long business partner search undertaken simultaneously in these six (or seven) markets by Embassy-based Commercial Specialists, who actively promote your products to literally hundreds of local importers, buyers and distributors. Information about your company and your products/services are also featured on the AEM website. To maximize exposure in the market, some of the events include Catalog Show booths at local industry trades shows. Please visit the website for complete details and online registration: http://www.buyusa.gov/easternmed/ Or, contact the Charleston Export Assistance Center at tel: 304-347-5123 ext. 11 or email: jim.pittard@mail.doc.gov U.S. Commercial Service Launches Americas Website - This new site consolidates the resources of U.S. Commercial Service offices in 21 markets throughout the Americas, providing companies with a single point of access to existing and proposed free trade agreements, market research, best prospects, trade event lists, industry-specific information, business service providers, useful links and key contacts. Visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/americas/ The China Business Information Center at www.export.gov/china is located within the Commerce Department’s U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service (USFCS) and features practical information that the American exporter can use to achieve tangible commercial results including: country and industry-specific information, exporting steps and tips, current market research, timely export leads, upcoming trade events and a series of outreach events planned throughout the United States as well as vital regulatory information. For more information on the China BIC, please visit the website or call 800-872-8723. Information about China BIC outreach events can be found on the Trade Events section of the website. ADVERTISE IN THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE OF COMMERCIAL NEWS USA The deadline for advertising in the January/February 2005 issue of Commercial News USA is November 5. For more information about how your company can profit from this export promotional tool, visit the Commercial News USA Web Site at www.export.gov/cnusa, or call 1-800-581-8533. TOP Exporter Profile Tabor Machine Company PO Box 3037 Bluefield, WV 24701 USA Mr. Bryan S. Walker President 304-327-2431 (tel) 304-325-2348 (fax) bswalker@stargate.com (email) www.tabormachine.com On October 7, 2004, Tabor Machine Company received the 2004 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting from Governor Bob Wise for the company’s commitment to exporting. Tabor Machine Company, with more than 40 years experience providing quality customer service and product, has consistently shown growth in the global marketplace - reporting sales to seven additional countries in the last year alone. The company has participated in many West Virginia Development Office trade events, most recently to China Coal and Mining and to ExpoMin in Santiago, Chile - both world renowned mining equipment trade shows. Tabor Machine Company is a leading designer and custom manufacturer of vibrating screen systems. Tabor's screen systems are used to remove water or size the material (i.e. separate large and coarse materials from those of desired size and consistency). Sizes vary with widths of up to 10 feet and lengths of up to 24 feet. A vibrating screen system employs a self-contained drive mechanism that uses one, two or three moving screens of various textures, materials and grades to sort, size and dewater coal, aggregates (sand, gravel and crushed rock) and other minerals. TOP Featured Market The Marketing & Communications office is happy to announce our latest market of the month feature on Portugal. Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Although Portugal is a European country it looks towards the Atlantic and to trade with others. U.S. exporters have increasingly found this market to be receptive and eager for their goods. Best prospects for U.S. exporters include telecommunications, computer and software, Internet and e-commerce, medical equipment, and more. Learn more about this market: visit the site TOP Global Roundup U.S. Government May Now Promote Exports to Libya On September 20, 2004, President Bush issued a determination waiving the prohibition on U.S. Government assistance for commercial exports to Libya found in the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA) (See a copy of the White House press release attached below and also available by clicking here. Therefore, U.S. Government assistance, including U.S. Government export assistance, for commercial exports to Libya is now generally permissible in accordance with usual Department policies and U.S. laws. The exports of certain goods, services, and technologies from the United States to Libya still remain restricted and may require an export license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Should you have any questions, you may contact Jim Pittard, International Trade Specialist, Charleston Export Assistance Center, Tel: 304-347-5123 Ext. 11 NEW RULINGS ON EXPORTS TO CUBA On June 30, 2004, the U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of Industry and Security placed new limitations on gift parcels and personal baggage and revised licensing policy regarding aircraft & vessels going to Cuba. To obtain the ruling, call Jim Pittard, International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Charleston at (304)347-5123 ext.11. Dominican Republic Joins Five Central American Countries in Historic Free Trade Agreement with U.S. - On August 5, 2004 the United States, the Dominican Republic, and representatives of five Central American nations signed the U.S. – Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). This historic agreement creates the second-largest free trade zone in Latin America for U.S. exports. Dominican Republic - Best Prospects for U.S. Exports are: Sporting goods and recreational equipment Fabrics, Cosmetics and toiletries Telecommunications equipment Hotel and restaurant equipment Agricultural Products - Wheat, Corn, Lumber, Tobacco, Soybean meal and oil, Animal fat, and Sweeteners. Please contact the Charleston Export Assistance Center (Tel: 304-347-5123) for information on the DR-CAFTA agreement, and on doing business with the Dominican Republic. UCP 500 update to be completed in 2005 - Export and import pros who use letters of credit (L/Cs) need to be aware that the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is revising the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credits (UCP 500). The 49 articles of UCP 500 are a comprehensive guide to exporters, importers, bankers, lawyers, and transport executives involved in L/C transactions worldwide. In contrast to previous revisions and updates, this one is expected to incorporate far more input from outside the banking field. One of the best places to keep up-to-date with the latest UCP 500 and L/C developments is the ICC newsletter, Documentary Credits Insight : www.iccbooksusa.com. The full text of UCP 500 can be downloaded at: www.jus.uio.no/ or purchased in book or e-book form. Cost: $12.95 book, $15 e-book (this is the latest, 6th edition, 1993 Revision). A new L/C guide is Ravi Mehta's Export L/C Management, A Handbook for the Exporter. To order, e-mail Sieben's Florida, aea16@hotmail.com. TOP Click here to view last month's newsletter. West Virginia World Trader produced by Capitol City Communications.