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Export Resource Guide
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Business New Haven
10/15/2001
By:
BNH
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ORGANIZATIONAL HELP
Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) operates an International Trade Council (ITC), a clearinghouse of information, and provides many free services to CBIA members. Contact 860-244-1900 or visit www.cbia.com.
The Connecticut Foreign Trade Association (CFTA) assists in promoting international trade in Connecticut by providing a forum for members to exchange information and network. Contact 800-243-4645.
The Connecticut World Trade Association (CWTA) is a resource for information and programs to promote two-way international trade. CWTA operates an Internet based system that enables users to post offers to buy and/or sell products and services. It also conducts seminars on trade issues. Contact 203-336-5353 or visit www.portconnecticut.com.
Trade Routes is an export-assistance program sponsored by the United Illuminating Co. It was created to help manufacturers in the export process gain new business. It offers an educational program that provides information on transportation, market information, trade leads, as well as other subjects. Contact 800-722-5584 or visit www.uinet.com/WhatsNew/econdevo.asp.
The World Affairs Council focuses on all aspects of international issues to aid businesses in being effective in the global workplace and plays a role in advancing trade and global education in the state. It works to develop greater awareness of governments and cultures around the world by providing a forum for people interested in international business culture and politics. Contact 860-594-4100 or visit www.worldaffairs-htfd.org/intro.html.
WestConn International Trade Association Inc. is an international trade organization that works to expand international commerce. WestConn offers educational programs and seminars. Contact 203-324-5620.
The U.S. Department of Commerce staffs an Export Assistance Center in Middletown It offers programs designed to assist small and mid-sized businesses. The center is home to international trade specialists who are made available to counsel businesses in Connecticut with these programs and services, as well as export strategies. Contact 860-638-6950 or visit www.usatrade.gov.
The International Business Council of the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce offers seminars, networking and trade missions to assist companies in expanding their international business. Contact 860-525-4451 ext. 203 or visit www.metrohartford.com.
HOTLINES
Export Opportunity Hotline, Small Business Foundation of America provides information about getting started in exporting, as well as market research, information referral and an events calendar. Contact 800-243-7232.
Export Hotline is a fax-retrieval system for U.S. businesses providing information on approximately 60 countries and 50 industries. Contact 800-USA-XPORT or visit www.exporthotline.com.
PLANNING, MARKETING, EDUCATION
The University of Connecticut Center for International Business Education & Research (CIBER) was created to help increase the competitiveness of U.S. businesses globally. It focuses principally on global technology. Contact 860-486-5458 or visit www.ucc.uconn.edu/~cibadm01. Also at UConn is the Connecticut Small Business Development Centers, created to advise and help small businesses in their early stages by providing one-on-one counseling as well as group training programs. Contact 860-486-4135 or visit www.sbdc.uconn.edu.
Central Connecticut State University's China Resource Center offers business management-training courses for Chinese clients of Connecticut businesses, as well as cultural sensitivity and negotiation practices for Connecticut managers and executives. Also offers language instruction in Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese. Contact 860-832-2813 or visit www.ccsu.edu/china/.
The Center for Global Competitiveness at Fairfield University (203-254-4000, ext. 2838) assists companies looking to enter new markets or develop international trade. Provides detailed marketing plans for specific areas of the world in order to aid in choosing the country best suited for a specific company's products/services.
The Inlingua Language Center is a foreign communications provider offering services such as language training, translation and interpretation and foreign language voice-overs. Contact 860-561-7252 or visit www.Inlingua.com.
Manchester Community College (860-512-2678) offers Global Issues Programs in the autumn and spring. Programs cover various issues on international trade as well as social and economic issues.
The Bridgeport Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) at the University of Bridgeport is part of the school's department of marketing/law/international business and holds activities including conferences and trade missions, as well as international seminars. BFTI provides consulting service to firms seeking to do business overseas. Contact 203-576-4367.
Teikyo Post University's Management Center helps businesses with developing international trade. The center offers seminars and programs on international marketing topics, as well as foreign language and cultural classes to aid business people in global trade. Contact 203-596-4681 or visit www.teikyopost.edu.
Access International is a program of the state's Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) which helps businesses needing information and assistance with international trade. Program employs both private and public resources. Contact 800-392-2122 or visit www.cerc.com.
MyExports.com is a public-private partnership of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Global Publishers, LLC providing businesses with an exporter referral service that connects them to the global marketplace. Contact 877-390-2629 or visit www.myexporters.com.
Southwest Area Commerce & Industry Association (SACIA) is a regional business council that serves Fairfield County and provides an array of services including professional development programs and seminars. SACIA works with regional groups and universities to provide programs with an international focus. Contact 203-359-3220 or visit www.sacia.org.
The World Affairs Forum seeks to promote greater public understanding and discussion of important international issues. Sponsors a series of more than 40 lectures, cultural events and trips from September through June. Contact 203-356-0340 or visit www.worldaffairsforum.org.
ISO 9000
The Connecticut Department of Labor offers funding for ISO 9000 training through its area Employer Service Units. Contact CERC at 800-392-2122 or visit www.ctdol.state.ct.us for referral.
Central Connecticut State University's Institute for Industrial & Engineering Technology (IIET) offers ISO 9000 certification information. Contact Richard Mull (www.manu.com/iiet.htm).
The Connecticut State Extension Program (ConnSTEP) offers ISO 9000 training by way of service providers that work individually with a company in a mentor type program. Contact 800-MEP-4MFG or visit www.connstep.org.
The Connecticut Quality Council is a private non-profit organization that offers ISO 9000 training workshops. The CQC offers public workshops on the Rensselaer campus or contract on-site workshops for companies. Contact 860-548-2418 or visit www.ctqualitycouncil.org.
Excel Partnership Inc. provides international training and consulting to help companies form strategies for appropriate levels of ISO 9000 as well as other improvement techniques for management and production. Excel offers ISOnet, a series of classes and workshops on ISO 9000 certification. Contact 203-426-3281 or visit www.excelpartnership.com.
CONNECTICUT FOREIGN TRADE RESOURCES
Connecticut World Trade Association (CWTA)
330 Water Street, Bridgeport 06604
www.portconnecticut.com
Contact: James Nicholas (203-336-5353)
CWTA is part of an international network of 251 world trade associations in 243 cities and 65 countries. It is a resource for information, contacts and programs that aid in two-way trade. It has more than 100 members and offers an electronic world trade-network, international business education, an international real estate service and library with NTDB capability, trade assistance and trade shows.
WestConn International Trade Association Inc.
4 Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull 06611-3938
Contact: Charles F. Vento (203-966-8880, ext. 241)
WestConn is an international trade organization that develops new concepts, procedures and techniques to assist with the expansion of international commerce. WestConn does this by promoting educational programs that address the issues of the industry.
World Affairs Council
P.O. Box 330569, West Hartford 06133-0569
www.worldaffairs-hftd.org
Contact: Executive Director Marjorie D. Anderson (860-594-4100)
The World Affairs Council helps small businesses be more effective in the global environment by focusing on social, cultural, political and economic international issues. Group holds an executive forum or business series each year. Terms from 180 days to seven years.
CONNECTICUT BASED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & PROGRAMS
Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) Industry Cluster & International Division 505 Hudson Street, Hartford 06106 860-270-8067
www.state.ct.us/ecd/international/index.html.
DECD's International Division encourages Connecticut businesses to export their products by providing information and contacts with public and private agencies that may help them access international markets. The division has representatives in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea.
Connecticut Israel Exchange Commission (CONNIX)
c/o State of Connecticut
Department of Economic & Community Development
10 Middle Street, First Floor, Bridgeport 06604 203-336-8700
www.us-israel.org/jsource/states/CT.html
CONNIX was created by a state statute to promote and develop business, academic, cultural and educational exchanges between Connecticut and Israel. Some of Connecticut's Jewish federations provide funding for the commission, while the state provides in-kind services.
BANK BASED RESOURCES FOR EXPORTS
Connecticut banks with full-service international divisions that support various federal Ex-Im Bank programs include Fleet Bank (800-892-6346 www.fleet.com) Chase Manhattan Bank (203-382-5311 www.chase.com), First Union Bank (203-406-6628 www.firstunion.com) and Webster Bank (860-692-1618 www.websterbank.com).
Chase Manhattan's International Trade Services was designed to aid companies in meeting demands of the international marketplace. This service offers assistance in arranging flexible short-term financing, managing foreign exchange exposure, supporting overseas contract bids, as well as dealing with import and export letters of credit.
Fleet Bank offers an Ex-Im Bank program. The U.S. Export-Import Bank was created to expand U.S. exports by making financing more easily obtainable. There are several programs that have been made available to businesses by Ex-IM Bank at Fleet Bank:
The Working Capital Guarantee Program encourages banks to provide export financing to small and medium-sized businesses. Ex-Im Bank has given Fleet delegated lending authority, which allows the bank to lend up to $3.5 million without approval of Ex-Im Bank. There is no loan minimum or maximum, and loans must be used for export-related working capital.
The Medium-Term Foreign Buyer Financing Program offers protection on repayments for private-sector loans. No limitations on loan amounts. Eligible products must have at least 50 percent U.S. content, be non-military and must be considered capital equipment.
The Export Credit Insurance Program proposes a number of policies that protect exporters from non-payment by foreign buyers for commercial or political reasons. Commercial risk coverage is 90-95 percent; political risk coverage is 95-100 percent. Eligible products must be made in the U.S. only, non-military and include a minimum of 51 percent U.S. content.
First Union Bank offers CyberExport, an Internet-based service that aids exporters in maximizing return on foreign sales by the acceleration of the cash cycle, added control and reduction of risk and administrative costs, and simplified application of cash received on export shipments. Export activity can be tracked can be tracked on-line as it happens and information in the system's databases can be searched on-line. Contact 203-406-6623 or visit www.firstunion.com.
Webster Bank offers financing programs with benefits including minimizing foreign commercial risks, increasing export sales and providing favorable repayment terms to buyers. Webster's loan programs include short and long-term direct loans to foreign buyers, fixed or variable-rate financing and repayment.
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