Local, regional, national and international presenters will come together for this year’s World Trade Day program, focusing on "The European Union, 1992-2002 – Ten Years Later," and business opportunities within its 15 countries.
Raymond Fogarty, director of the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center and World Trade Center, Rhode Island, said that many Rhode Island companies export products to Europe, "but not to the full extent that they could be. There are a lot of opportunities out there."
Part of the mission of World Trade Day is to provide local companies the opportunity to network with potential European partners. Last year, exports from the Ocean State increased seven percent even though exports were down 6.33 percent nationally, Fogarty said.
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Presenters at World Trade Day will include Roger Axtell, former vice president of worldwide marketing for Parker Pen Company; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans; Jaymin B. Patel, senior vice president and chief financial officer of GTECH Holdings Corporation; and Petros Sourmelis, counselor for trade and commercial affairs at the European Delegation in Washington, D.C.
Each of the EU’s 15 countries will be represented at the conference Fogarty said. In addition, businesspeople from Rhode Island and throughout the region will participate in sessions to cover topics such as forming strategic alliances with European partners, tips for entering the European market and how the adoption of the Euro has changed doing business with Europe.
In addition, there will be an international business exposition with service providers from around New England displaying their services and a reception "A Taste of Europe" at the close of the day.
A month prior to the event, Fogarty said there were 250 people already registered and predicted that this will be the largest World Trade Day in the event’s 17-year history.
World Trade Day will be presented by the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center in partnership with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and the Human Resource Investment Council. Cooperating agencies include the World Trade Center, Rhode Island, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Sponsors include Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, FleetBoston Financial Corporation, GTECH Holdings Corporation, Providence Business News, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, The Providence Journal, Verizon Communications, Northeast Export Magazine, and Tillinghast, Licht, Perkins, Smith and Cohen.
The registration fee for World Trade Day is $50 per person. Preregistration is requested. To register, call (401) 232-6407.
