SIUE International Trade Center To Jointly Conduct S.A. Trade Mission

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Illinois Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is inviting interested regional businesses to join the ITC's 12-day trade mission in March to four South American cities.

Registration deadline is Jan. 27 for the trip that offers a limit of four Southern Illinois companies opportunities to find or expand distribution channels for their products/services in these emerging overseas markets.

There are no registration fees for the trade mission, which leaves March 16 and returns March 27. Owners or representatives of the four companies may visit any or all of the countries and pay only their own travel related expenses.

The trade mission-to be conducted jointly by the SIUE Center and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment (OTI)-has the support of U.S. embassies in the target cities: Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago and Lima, and also the support of the local Chambers of Commerce. The four companies will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

During 2007, the Illinois SBDC-ITC at SIUE assisted in $41.7 million export sales from the region, the creation of nearly 60 jobs, retention of more than 430 jobs, and the counseling and training of nearly 400 clients. The SBDC-ITC, a not-for-profit export information center, is funded through DCEO and the University to serve exporters in the 45 southernmost counties of the state.

The SBDC-ITC provides:

• Free individualized export counseling and evaluation of a company's export readiness;
• Customized international market research;
• Identification of foreign buyers, agents, distributors and partners;
• Export finance assistance;
• Participation in trade missions and trade shows worldwide;
• Offers an extensive library of international trade publications and databases.

What to expect:

• Matchmaking-two days of customized, one-on-one business appointments with
  prospective agents, distributors and representatives who have expressed interest
  in Illinois company products or services;
  - Interpreter service during all appointments
  - Local transportation
  
  
• Export counseling-in-depth briefings by the U.S. ambassadors to the host country
  - Export counseling and pre-trip briefing sessions to be provided by the SIUE SBDC-ITC before making matchmaking appointments;
  - Networking event in each country with the local business community
  
  
• Travel and Logistical Assistance-preferential rates in hotels;
  - Logistical and on-site support
  - Illinois companies will receive continuous follow-up assistance to ensure marketing objectives are met in the targeted markets

For more information or to register, contact the SBDC-ITC, (618) 650-2452, by e-mail: International-Trade-Center@siue.edu or via website at www.siue.edu/ITC.