WHITE HOUSE TRADE MISSION SAID WORTH $7,000 PRICE TAG

A DECEMBER TRADE MISSION TO PARIS AND MILAN FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS, HOSTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, IS WORTH THE $7,000 PRICE TAG BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THOSE MARKETS AND TO MAKE CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, SAID CAROLYN STRADLEY, PRESIDENT OF ATLANTA-BASED C&S PAVING CO. AND ALUM OF A SIMILAR MISSION TO MEXICO IN APRIL.

AS A RESULT OF THE TRIP TO MEXICO, C&S CURRENTLY HAS QUOTES OUT WITH SEVERAL MEXICAN COMPANIES, AND IS INVOLVED IN HELPING THOSE COMPANIES FIND FUNDING TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, SAID MS. STRADLEY IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GLOBALFAX ON AUG. 13.

ALTHOUGH THE MISSION IS EXPENSIVE, SAID MS. STRADLEY, WHO ALSO PLANS TO GO TO PARIS AND MILAN, THE TRIP IS WORTHWHILE, BOTH BECAUSE OF THE EXPOSURE THAT HER COMPANY WILL GET TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND BECAUSE “IT HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND YOU AND HOW THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WORKS.”

THE MISSION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE DEC. 1-6, IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF TRIPS SPONSORED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BEGINNING WITH ONE TO AMSTERDAM AND LONDON IN SEPTEMBER, 1995.

THE TRIP IS LIMITED TO 20 COMPANIES, AND WILL BE LED BY THE WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC LIAISON, ALEXIS HERMAN, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT.

THE BEST SALES PROSPECTS FOR BOTH COUNTRIES, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, COMPUTER SOFTWARE, ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OF POTENTIAL MISSION PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE’S FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS IN ITALY AND FRANCE FOR SALES POTENTIAL IN ORDER TO KEEP COMPANIES WITH PRODUCTS UNSUITABLE FOR THOSE MARKETS FROM WASTING TIME AND MONEY.

THE ESTIMATED $7,000 COST OF THE MISSION INCLUDES A $3,000 PARTICIPATION FEE, HOTEL, FOOD AND AIRFARE.  THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WILL ARRANGE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS CONTACTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY’S PRODUCTS.  THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO PROVIDE GENERAL AND COUNTRY-SPECIFIC BRIEFINGS, MARKETING ADVICE, LOGISTICAL AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AND WILL HOST RECEPTIONS FOR FOREIGN OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE PRESS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL LORETTA ALLISON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AT (202)482-5479; FAX (202) 482-1999, OR RACHEL BAILEY AT THE U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER AT (404) 657-1963; FAX (404) 657-1970.