EUROPEAN AND U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY LEADERS PARTICIPATING IN THE TRANSATLANTIC BUSINESS DIALOGUE (TABD) ARE FORMING A SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONCERNS OF SMALL-TO-MEDIUM BUSINESSES, SAID JAMES KOLKA, AN INDEPENDENT ATLANTA CONSULTANT WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE TABD.
DR. KOLKA TOLD GLOBALFAX IN AN INTERVIEW ON AUG. 29 THAT THE NEW INITIATIVE PLANS TO HELP SMALLER BUSINESSES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC THROUGH MEASURES SUCH AS EXPORT PROMOTION AND PARTNERING PROGRAMS.
THE TABD WAS FORMED IN 1995 TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE U.S., AND TO PROPOSE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT, BOTH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, AND WITH THIRD COUNTRIES.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL U.S. GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND THE FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE, PARTICIPATE IN THE TABD, AS DO BUSINESSMEN AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS FROM VARIOUS GROUPS.
SEVERAL TABD MEMBERS, INCLUDING DR. KOLKA, PARTICIPATED IN A TELECONFERENCE ON AUG. 29, AND ANOTHER MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 9 BETWEEN JEAN HEYMANS, THE EUROPEAN UNION SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ISSUE MANAGER, AND MARK STRUHS, HIS U.S. COUNTERPART. THE TWO WILL MEET IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE OF STUART EIZENSTAT, THE U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
SMALL-TO-MEDIUM BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEIR LEGAL, FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL CONCERNS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO DR. KOLKA AT (770) 977-4049, FAX (404) 894-0485; MARTY DUGGAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION AT (703) 642-2490, FAX (703) 750-9655; OR PAM BYRON, WITH THE EUROPEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AT (202) 347-9292, FAX (202) 628-5498. SUGGESTIONS AND CONCERNS WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE TABD.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN