U.S. trade agency conference to focus on Black Sea region (02/01/98)

U.S. trade agency conference to focus on Black Sea region

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley announced in an address to the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) that the U.S. Trade and Development Agency's (TDA) "Crossroads of the World" conference has been slated for May 27-29 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The conference, sponsored by TDA in cooperation with the U.S. departments of Commerce, Energy and Transportation, will provide opportunities for U.S. businesses to increase their participation in developmental initiative in the region.

Mr. Daley will speak to the important contribution that can be made by American businesses as partners in the region's emerging economies, particularly in the oil and gas, mining and minerals, electric power and transportation sectors, which will be the primary focus of this upcoming conference.

Workshops at the three-day conference will highlight more than 65 specific projects worth more than $60 billion in long-term investments that are being developed in 13 countries in the Black Sea, Central Asian and Caucasus region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Participants will be provided a complete report profiling opportunities in these countries at the conference.

"Competition from European and Asian companies in the Caspian and Blacks seas is fierce. By creating opportunities for U.S. companies to discuss prospective projects while they are still in the development stages enables business leaders to evaluate what their opportunities in the region mean to the success of their company," said TDA Director J. Joseph Grandmaison. "Our most successful U.S. corporate leaders understand that successful development projects in these markets translate into not only an increase of U.S. exports and jobs, but also the mutual rewards of a successful global economy."

TDA also will facilitate "one-on-one" meetings at the conference between key regional project sponsors and American business representatives. These prescheduled meetings allow American companies to introduce their services and products to key procurement officials, paving the way for future exports.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, based in Rosslyn, Va., provides American firms with market entry, exposure and information through the funding of feasibility studies, technical assistance and reverse trade missions.

For more information on the conference, contact Dan Lamey at Management for Meetings, (202) 347-2725.

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