ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - (April 11, 2003) On Wednesday, April 30, 2003, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will sponsor a one-day outreach conference for small and medium-sized businesses interested in exploring opportunities to increase their exports of goods and services to overseas markets. The program will focus on how to do business with USTDA and will showcase the types of assistance available through the Federal Government to help U.S. businesses compete successfully in the international arena.

The Honorable Hector V. Barreto, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be the opening speaker for the day's events. The conference will include detailed, practical information about how small and medium-sized firms can avail themselves of the overseas business opportunities supported by the USTDA program. Time will be set aside for one-on-one meetings with USTDA program staff to discuss the most successful means for U.S. firms to compete for contracts to perform USTDA-funded studies and activities.

"One of my personal commitments is to continue to better our service to U.S. businesses in identifying promising opportunities overseas," said USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey in announcing the event. "In particular, USTDA is committed to assisting small businesses, who have been awarded over 75 percent of the contracts over the past three years to help carry out the agency's program. I look forward to this conference as a way to build on the strength of this partnership."

The conference will include presentations by representatives of various U.S. Government trade promotion agencies that focus on the most effective way for small and medium-sized firms to work with them. Organizations invited to participate in the conference include the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Small Business Exporters Association.

The conference will take place in the Business Center at USTDA headquarters, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1550, Arlington, VA 22209. Registration for this event can be made on-line at www.tech-res-intl.com/tda, or by contacting Greg Attanasio at (301) 897-7481.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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