BUSINESS CENTER TO BE DEDICATED AT SEMO

International business and its impact on the local economy will be discussed during a rededication of the Southeast Missouri State University World Trade Center Satellite Office next month.

The trade center, established at the Small Business Development Center at the university, has been busy since it opened in 1995 as a satellite of the St. Louis World Trade Center.

The rededication and international business discussion is a special event in the celebration of International Week and the university's 125th anniversary. A reception will be held immediately following the rededication ceremonies in Dempster Hall Glenn Auditorium.

The dedication is scheduled at 5 p.m. April 12, with the discussion at 6:30 p.m.

The World Trade Center of St. Louis is one of 280 centers in more than 81 countries, each with a goal of promoting and helping to establish international trade.

The connection here has opened trading opportunities for area businesses and expanded their international potential, said Buz Sutherland, "It allows companies to position themselves for world trade, whether they are a home-based arts and craft business or a major industrial company."

The satellite office here is the fifth to be affiliated with the World Trade Center of St. Louis. Others are in Springfield, St. Peters, Jefferson County and downtown St. Louis.

"We have provided some good services," said Sutherland, director of the small business center. "This links our office to 150 World Trade Center data bases covering more than 50,000 sources of information via computer terminal, modem and telephone."

"There is a lot more international trade in Southeast Missouri than people realize," said Kim Wells of the St. Louis World Trade Center.

"We have provided a number of `International Trade' seminars in the area," said Wells. "We offer presentations about every quarter."

The workshops have covered a number of topics concerning import-export potential, market opportunities, transportation of goods and payment for goods.

A number of services are also available to businesses through the World Trade Center and the satellite office.

"We offer international business counseling, one-on-one, education and training programs, trade information and research services," said Wells. "We also provide an international trade library and assistance with export pricing, documentation and shipping.

The World Trade Center specializes in arranging contacts between small business and foreign buyers and suppliers. "The center can provide direct assistance to firms just developing as well as those wishing to expand their international activities, said Sutherland.

"It's just like having an agent or an office in another country," said Sutherland.

"The center has not been as active as we'd like to see it," said Wells. "But, with the rededication, we're stepping up our efforts and hope to see more activity.

On hand for the rededication ceremony here will be Robert Frueh, director of the St. Louis World Trade Center; Bruce Adair, chairman, Gateway Diagnostics Inc.; Norman Thomas, director of International Sales, Star Manufacturing Inc.; Kohta Fujiwara, president of Biokyowa Inc. of Cape Girardeau; Paul E. Wiedlin, president of M&W Packaging U.S., Inc., north of Cape Girardeau;, and Keith Hall of the St. Louis World Trade Center, who will be working part time in the satellite office here.

The event is sponsored by the Office of International Programs and the Harrison College of Business at the university.