MITC Trade Bulletin


MITC Trade Bulletin The Maine International Trade Center's Electronic News Service - A Members Only Benefit Friday, March 12, 2004

Learn the essentials of international cash payment methods - credit cards, wire transfers, and Cash Against Documents (CAD) - to reduce your risks and increase your international sales potential. This seminar will provide a detailed review of credit card, wire transfer, and cash against documents (CAD) pros and cons, costs involved, processes, and transaction times, as well as valuable tips for evaluating risks and tracking payments. Featured speakers are Arthur Rice and Diane Chiarantona from KeyBank. To view the program agenda, click on the link below for the seminar brochure (PDF document):
http://www.mitc.com/PDF/TemplateCashinAdvance.pdf

Beyond Google^TM: Research Techniques in a Global Marketplace - April 8, 2004
Are you suffering from Internet information overload ? Are you drowning in piles of periodicals but still not finding the critical information you need? Learn how to use research to gain a competitive business advantage, investigate new markets, and develop international opportunities for your company. This seminar will provide valuable information on accessing and using available tools including business periodicals, trade publications, and databases to conduct effective international market research. To view the program agenda, click on the link below for the seminar brochure (PDF document):
http://www.mitc.com/PDF/TemplateBeyondGoogle.pdf

The New EU: Business Opportunities in the Expanded European Union
Save the Date - June 10th
Click here for more information.

As a benefit to MITC members, UPS offers discounts of up to 25% on UPS Worldwide Express letters or packages. Ship using your company account and just let them know that you're a MITC member to receive the special discount. To take advantage of this MITC member benefit, call UPS at 1-866-279-7485.

Are you interested in building your Canadian market? If so, the U.S. Commercial Service invites you to consider joining us at the GLOBE trade show coming up in Vancouver at the end of March. We will have a significant presence at the event with a full complement of staff at our USA pavilion, complete with our world renowned Gold Key service. For details, please visit our CSCanada web site at: http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/en/globe.html. If you would like to discuss this event or other environmental opportunities or strategies for the Canadian market, please contact: Richard Vinson, U.S. Consulate General, phone: 902-429-2482, x102, fax: 902-429-7690

Water Africa 2004 Sub Sahara, March 17-19, Maputo, Mozambique. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of State are organizing a Product Literature Center at Water Africa 2004 which will be held in conjunction with "Southern Africa Building and Construction 2004" and "Electricity and Mining Africa 2004" exhibitions. For more information, please visit: www.environment.ita.doc.gov, or contact Sandra Collazo at Sandra_collazo@ita.doc.gov.

SCIpharm 2004, March 21-25, 2004, Edinburgh, pharmaceutical science's own congress, designed by the industry for the industry. It has a unique remit: it looks at the latest advancements in drug discovery and development, and it also brings together the latest thinking on how to turn those drugs into successful products. Combining three science based tracks with a fourth one looking at the business aspects of pharmaceuticals, this conference is the first of its kind. It provides opportunities to meet speakers and attendees from all stages of the process, from the cutting edge of technology through to marketing, licensing, finance and business and management skills. Visit www.scipharm.info for further information or contact Laura Milne : scipharm@soci.org, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7598 1565. Fax: +44 (0) 20 72357743

U.S. – West Africa Information and Communication Technology Conference, March 31, 2004, Newark, New Jersey. The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and the Eastern Trade Council (ETC) invite you to explore exciting new opportunities in one of Africa’s fastest and most dynamic growth sectors – information and communication technology. Additional information is available at: www.ccawaibl.com.

Business > Forward, May 26, 2004, Saint John, New Brunswick. An IT conference that will help you to improve, simplify, maximize and accelerate your business with technology. For more information, please visit: www.businessforward.ca or call 1-888-967-5797.

Medical Polymers 2004, June 3-4, Dublin, Ireland. A two-day conference focusing on the use of polymers in the medical industry. For more information, please visit: www.polymerconferences.com, or contact Sharon Garrington at sgarrington@rapra.net.

RepCan 2004, Business Matchmaking Event, June 16-17, 2004, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This two-day event is hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service and will promote products and services of U.S. export-ready firms to potential business prospects in Ontario. For more information: Commercial Service of the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto at (416) 595-5412 x 223.

FI Asia-China, March 23-25, Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China. A food ingredients show with 600 international and local Chinese exhibiting companies and 14,000 visitors. For more information: Khaliaka Meardry, USDA Trade Show Office, Tel: (202)-720-3065, email: Khaliaka.Meardry@usda.gov; or Ross Kreamer, ATO Shanghai, Tel: 011-86-21-6279-8622, email: ATOShanghai@usda.gov

SIAL China - March 31-April 1, 2004, Shanghai, China. SIAL China 2004 is an excellent venue for US food exporters to tap into China’s market. China is the largest food market in the world with over 1.3 billion inhabitants, of which 350 million are urban consumers. The event will welcome around 35,000 professional visitors from all different areas of China. Contact: Khaliaka Meardry at (202) 720-3065 or by email to Khaliaka.Meardry@usda.gov

Globe 2004, March 31-April 2, Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. More than 400 innovative technology companies from Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia will showcase a wide range of environmental solutions. For more information, please visit: www.globe2004.com.

VINITALY – April 1-5, 2004, Verona, Italy. Vinitaly, held annually, is the world’s largest international wine and spirit show. The FAS Trade Show Office is partnering with Veronafiere and FAS/Rome for the first time in organizing a USA Pavilion. Vinitaly offers a great opportunity for the American wine industry to showcase their diverse and unique wines; to meet not only the Italian trade, but the large number of international visitors and trade members; to educate the European consumer and press about the characteristics of wine regions of America; to study the latest trends; to analyze and discuss the newest technologies; to enter the European market. Contact: Sharon.Cook@usda.gov

Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2004 , April 20-23, 2004, Singapore. FHA 2004 is the largest food & hospitality event in the Asia Pacific Region. For more information, please contact Ms. Luanne Theseira of CS Singapore at 65/6476-9037, fax: 65/6476-9080.

Giftionery Taipei - April 22-25, 2004, Taipei International Gift & Stationery Spring Show, Taipei, Taiwan. Seasonal gifts, souvenirs, ceramics, handicrafts, and more...For more information: www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw

2004 FMI Show - May 2-4, 2004. Chicago, IL. NEW at FMI 2004! Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is partnering with the U.S. Food Export Showcase (sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture), All Things Organic, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, and the Fancy Food Show. For information on exhibiting in the U.S. Food Export Showcase, please contact: Sharon.Cook@usda.gov

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27^th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf

APAS - May 10-13, 2004, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Sao Paulo State Supermarket Association (APAS) show is an annual trade show dedicated to the retail sector. The show is considered the third largest supermarket trade event in the world. This show is well known for its business orientation and it is a respected showcase for food and beverage products, equipment and services to the retail sector. It is opened only to sector professionals. In 2003, ATO Sao Paulo promoted 174 U.S. products under the “U.S. Contemporary Food” concept with 25 new-to-market U.S. companies who reported projected sales of $124,000. Contact: Teresina.Chin@usda.gov

ANALYTICA 2004 - May 11-14, 2004, Munich, Germany. Held every two years since 1968, ANALYTICA is the international meeting place for specialists from the areas of environmental foodstuffs and industrial analysis, biochemistry, biotechnology, genetic engineering, molecular and cell biology. For more information: www.analytica.de The Eastern Maine Trade Council in partnership with MITC will coordinate participation of Maine companies at a most competitive price, for details contact: Dana Eidsness at eidsness@mitc.com or 207-753-0574.

85^th National Restaurant Association (NRA) Hotel-Motel Show - May 22-25, 2004, McCormick Place, Chicago. (The Maine International Trade Center has filled the Maine Booth at this show to capacity, and registration is now closed. )

IFIA Japan 2004, May 26-28, 2004, Tokyo, Japan, Asia’s largest food ingredients and addictives event. Combining large collection of manufacturers, distributors with a showcase of the largest products and services for the industry. For more information contact Kathy Giannetti via email: giannetti@ejkrause.com

EXPHOTEL - June 9-11, 2004, Cancun, Mexico. This is the most complete and important trade event for food and beverage products in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean. If U.S. suppliers are interested in positioning their products into the most important and rapidly growing hotel, restaurant and tourist venue in all of Mexico, they must attend this event. All key importers and distributors servicing this important destination attend this show. At last year’s show, over 4,800 key contacts from the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, industrial cafeterias, bars, and discos, visited the show. There were over 28 companies who exhibited in the USA Pavilion. Contact: Teresina.Chin@usda.gov

Food Taipei - June 17-20, 2004, Taipei International Food Show, Taipei, Taiwan. Beverages, condiments, frozen foods, and more...For more information: www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw

Food and Hotel South China, June 23-25, 2004, Guangzhou Convention Center, China. For more information, please contact: Khaliaka Meardry, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3065, Khaliaka.Meardry@usda.gov.

American Café, June 23-24, 2004, Casablanca, Morocco. The third U.S. Consumer Oriented Food Products Exhibition hosted by the Agricultural Affairs Office in Rabat and the USDA Trade Show Office. For more information, please see: http://www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/tsinfo.html.

Commercial Vehicle and Bus Trade Fair, Sept. 9-2, 2004, Moscow, Russia. Due to little competition from Russian truck manufacturers, growing freight volumes and an annual replacement demand for heavy trucks and trailers, conditions are favorable for new market entrants. Contact: Ken Cardelle at Kcardelle@iegexpo.com or see www.iegexpo.com

USA PAVILION at SIAL PARIS 2004, October 17-21, 2004, Paris, France. This event is a USDA-endorsed food products exhibition. For more information, please contact Sharon Cook, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3425, www.fas.usda.gov

All Asia Food Expo, New York City, October 2004. All Asia Food Expo is a trade event featuring Asian food and beverage products organized by Diversified Business Communications, which is based in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit: www.divbusiness.com or contact Julie Bernier at jbernier@divcom.com

Greek Trade Mission - March 28 – April 1, 2004. The trade mission will focus on high-value foods and wines for the foodservice and retail sectors. Catering contracts have recently been announced for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. During 2004, visitors to Greece will more than double to 25 million visitors. Greece is an import-dependent country, so these caterers will be looking for sources of supply to meet their requirements. Eligible expenses are reimbursable through the MAP branded program, administered by commodity organizations and State regional trade groups. www.fas.usda.gov Contact: Shani Zebooker at (202) 720-2075 or email to Shani.Zebooker@fas.usda.gov

Market Research Mission for US Exporters to China - April 19-23,2004 US-China Build is planning a fact-finding mission to China for US building product manufacturers and exporters. The fee to participate in theis program will be $650 for EBPA members, $750 for non-members. Contact: Rose Braden at rbraden@uschinabuild.org

FAS Mission to Malaysia - April 24-27, 2004, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. FAS is sponsoring a Trade Mission to Malaysia, directly after Food & Hotel Asia 2004 in Singapore, to provide a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the Malaysian markets for U.S. food products in a concise informative program. Participants will tour local wet markets and supermarkets, as well as have one-on-one meetings with qualified buyers. Eligible expenses are reimbursable through the MAP branded program, administered by commodity organizations and State regional trade groups. Contact: Shani Zebooker at (202) 720-2075 or email to Shani.Zebooker@fas.usda.gov

FAS Mission to Thailand - April 24-28, 2004, Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand. This mission is focused on the retail and food service sectors and is directly after Food & Hotel Asia. Thailand has a booming tourist industry with nearly eleven million international visitors in 2002, driving up demand for imported food, beverage, and spirits. In 2002, consumer-oriented agricultural product imports from the U.S. were $80 million, a 22% increase over 2001’s imports of $65 million. The mission is limited to 10 participants. Eligible expenses are reimbursable through the MAP branded program, administered by commodity organizations and State regional trade groups. Contact: Shani Zebooker at (202) 720-2075 or email to Shani.Zebooker@fas.usda.gov

Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership is pleased to be able to offer, completely free of charge, every manufacturer in Maine an opportunity to become engaged in serving the defense industry, or to expand the amount of business they already do in that category. The key to preserving manufacturing jobs, and to creating new ones, is increasing sales. Through a grant authorized by the U.S. Congress, Maine MEP has been able to create a registry of all New England manufacturers who might, under specific circumstances, have something to offer the U.S. Department of Defense and many of their prime contractors. Participation is free, easy and should not take more than ten minutes. Please call Richard Livingston or Amanda Thompson at 207-623-0680 or visit: http://www.mainemep.org/.

Conference Report Now Available: Blaine House Conference on Natural Resource-based Industries: “Charting a New Course” on November 17, 2003. The Conference Report lays out 75 recommendations to strengthen Maine’s aquaculture, fishing, farming, forestry and tourism businesses. . For more information, please contact: (207)287-6077 or linda.c.laplante@maine.gov. The report may be downloaded from the Governor’s website, as follows: www.state.me.us/governor/baldacci/news/events/natres_conference_1003.html

Hong Kong has recently launched a new business portal, business.gov.hkThe purpose of the portal is to provide essential information on how to start or expand a business in Hong Kong for local, mainland Chinese and overseas investors. This new portal, conceived by the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (CITB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, offers access to over 100 information sources, including government departments, public bodies and trade associations. The government-to-business (G2B) portal was designed to be user-friendly for corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, providing a single point of entry for up-to-date and comprehensive content and services. The following types of information are available on the portal: Start your Business, Finance your Business, Grow your Business, Manage your Business.

The Olympics Hot Sheet is the perfect way to stay on top of what's going on in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in China. For more information on the Olympics and other ways the U.S. Commercial Service can assist you in China, please visit: www.buyusa.gov/china/en.

Spring Language Classes at USM Center for Continuing Education
Beginning Chinese, 7 Mondays, April 5 – May 24, 7 – 9 p.m.
Vous Parlez Francais, Part 1, 10 Mondays, April 5 – June 21, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Entre Nous: Conversation in French, 6 Thursdays, April 8 – May 20, 7 – 9 p.m.
For course descriptions and registration information, visit www.usm.maine.edu/cce and look under Enriching Your Life.

CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER.

“Making Connections for U.S. Business.” CEEBIC is a business facilitation program for U.S. firms interested in expanding into the Central and Eastern European markets. Established in 1990, CEEBIC is a one-stop shop and the US Government's clearinghouse for the most recent economic, commercial, and financial information on the 15 countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

http://www.mac.doc.gov/ceebic/

MITC Trade Bulletin is a members only benefit. For information about MITC membership, please visit our website or contact us today.

Website: www.mitc.com

Bangor Office: 207-990-3161
Lewiston Office: 207-753-0574
Portland Office: 207-541-7400

Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2004 , April 20-23, 2004, Singapore. FHA 2004 is the largest food & hospitality event in the Asia Pacific Region. For more information, please contact Ms. Luanne Theseira of CS Singapore at 65/6476-9037, fax: 65/6476-9080.

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27^th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf