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Fed Ex continued…
FedEx can inform its clients about the benefits of the U.S. Commercial Service's worldwide export assistance network of 108 domestic offices and 149 posts in 78 countries that provide small and medium sized business end-to-end export solutions. Each year, the U.S. Commercial Service conducts thousands of trade events, and this new cooperative agreement with FedEx should generate more public awareness of the Commercial Service's export promotion activities designed to boost U.S. export sales from small and medium-size businesses.
The agreement includes linking of the BuyUSA.gov and FedEx Web sites. In addition, the U.S. Commercial Service and FedEx program may include other activities like joint export promotion seminars for U.S. small and medium business, sales force training, and direct marketing campaigns.
By joining forces with the U.S. Commercial Service, FedEx, a world leader in transportation, e-commerce and business services, will support U.S. small and medium-sized exporters through its online Web site and extensive network of global operations.
"As the U.S. becomes better integrated into the global trading system, FedEx and the U.S. Commercial Service are well-positioned to help exporters remain competitive in the global marketplace through our portfolio of services and solutions," said Michael Ducker, Executive Vice President of International for FedEx Express. "FedEx has a clear international growth strategy, and increasing U.S. export volume is a top priority."
FedEx and the U.S. Commercial Service expect to see more successes like Wild Flavors, Inc. of Erlanger, Kentucky, a manufacturer of flavor, color, and ingredients for the food and beverage industry. Last year, the company was referred to the U.S. Commercial Service by FedEx. Through export counseling, market research and other assistance provided by the Department of Commerce, in combination with international shipping solutions provided by FedEx, Wild Flavors anticipates a 50 percent increase in export sales this year, said Jonathan Martin, International Sales Manager.
Over the last decade, U.S. exports have accounted for a significant portion of the nation's economic growth, with exports currently supporting about 20 percent of U.S. manufacturing jobs. There is also vast untapped export potential: Small and medium-sized companies comprise 97 percent of U.S. exporters, but as a group account for only a small share of the value of U.S. exports. Small businesses also create 70 percent of the new jobs in America, and helping these firms export is vital to continued U.S. economic growth.
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OPIC Insurance continued…
· International Trade Loan Program (ITL) working capital loan has terms of up to 25 years. Loans are made by lending institutions with SBA guaranteeing a portion of the loan up to $1.25 million. The applicant must establish either that the loan proceeds will significantly expand existing export markets or develop new export markets, or that the small business is adversely affected by import competition. Proceeds may be used for working capital and/or facilities or equipment.
· SBA Export Express allows lenders to use streamlined and expedited loan review and approval procedures to process SBA guaranteed loans of up to $150,000. Loan proceeds may be used for most business purposes, including: market development activity such as participation in a foreign trade mission; transaction-specific financing; general lines of credit for export purposes; and term loans for permanent working capital and fixed-asset financing.
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Mexico Financing continued…
According to NAFIN, small and medium enterprises in Mexico play a key role in the country’s economic activity since they contribute 42% of the GDP and 64% of all employment. Unfortunately, most of these companies are unable to access new technologies and high quality equipment to improve their processes due to the lack and high cost of the financing offered by the private Mexican banking institutions. Given the importance of the machinery and equipment upgrades to increase Mexican small and medium-sized enterprises’ competitiveness and quality standards, NAFIN and Ex-Im Bank have launched this innovative financing plan that offers attractive and competitive terms to purchase U.S. capital goods or services. The Ex-Im Bank guaranteed financing strategy features the following benefits:
- Financing is available to purchase U.S. machinery and equipment.
- The minimum amount per loan is USD 100,000.
- Medium or long-term financing is available for small and medium companies.
- The loan finances 85% of the total value of the machinery and equipment purchase.
- Companies can access financing either in U.S. Dollars or Mexican Pesos at their own convenience and at competitive interest rates.
- The financing time frame is no less than 2 years.
- The loan also finances technical services offered by U.S. based companies.
- Mexican SME’s can decide whether to buy new or used equipment.
The requirements that Mexican SME’s face in order to get access to the Ex-Im Bank guaranteed loans offered by NAFIN are the following;
- Companies must be Mexican and be part of the industrial, commercial, or services sectors.
- SME’s must contribute 15% of the purchase.
- Companies are required to deliver legal information and financial statement to demonstrate their credit solvency.
- Companies must have been operating for more than 3 years in their business area.
- Companies must obtain insurance for the goods and machinery purchased.
The Ex-Im Bank and NAFIN financing strategy represents a good opportunity for U.S. machinery and equipment suppliers to promote their products among small and medium size Mexican companies. U.S. companies should take advantage of this unique opportunity to sell goods and services to Mexican SME’s. For further information, contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center.
Article prepared by Juan Carlos Ruiz, U.S. Commercial Service, Mexico City
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EU Funds continued…
1. What is ".eu"?
It is a new Internet address Top Level Domain (TLD) that will complement, not replace, existing national TLDs like ".be" and ".fr". It should not be confused with the ".eu.com", which is a sub-domain of ".com."
2. Why has ".eu"? been established?
It is part of a broader initiative by the European Union to encourage online activity. The idea is that companies can underscore their pan European marketing presence by registering ".eu" Internet addresses.
3. Who can register a ".eu" address?
Any EU resident or undertaking with its "registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the Community". The "Community" is eurospeak for the European Union and refers to all twenty-five EU Member States.
4. Who will manage the system?
The European Commission has selected EURid (the European Registry for Internet Domains) to administer the ".eu" registry. EURid will accredit registrars who will be responsible for handling applications and forwarding them to the Registry.
5. When will the registration process begin?
Probably not before Spring 2005. At the time of writing (24 August 2004) the European Commission still has to sign a contract with EURid. Once that happens the Registry will need to complete its preparations, which include accrediting Registrars. Registrars will only be able to forward to EURid those applications they receive after their accreditation date: no pre-registrations are possible.
6. Where will companies go to register names in the ".eu" TLD?
Companies will need to channel their application via one of the accredited Registrars, which EURid will list on its website. The Registry will not accept applications directly.
7. How will the addresses be assigned?
On a first come, first served basis – a registrar who receives more than one request for the same address shall forward the requests to the Registry in the chronological order in which they were received.
8. How will existing rights holders be protected?
The ".eu" implementing Regulation (Link 1) specifies that prior rights holders should be able to register in advance. The recently adopted Public Policy Rules (Link 2) have fleshed out this arrangement by fixing a "phased registration" period that will precede the general registration. During the "phased registration" holders of prior rights, such as trade marks, will be able to register ".eu" domain names before the registration process is opened to all.
9. How long will the phased registration period last?
Four months. During the first two months registration will be open exclusively to: holders of registered national and Community trademarks; geographic indications; and to public bodies wishing to register themselves and/or the territories they are responsible for. In the second two-month period holders of these prior rights can continue to register but the process will also be open to other rights holders, such as company’s with trading names protected by national law.
10. How much will it cost to register a name in the ".eu" domain?
EURid will be responsible for setting fees and states on its website (Link 3): "in its response to the Call for expressions of interest for the selection of the ".eu" TLD Registry, EURid proposed a registration fee of € 10 (ex. VAT) during the first year of operations. This is the price that will be charged by EURid to the ".eu" registrars and does not take into account the additional services by the registrar for his customer. Therefore it is estimated that the ultimate retail price charged by the registrars will be higher". Indeed.
Key Links
EURid
http://www.eurid.be/index.html
For further information or feedback please do not hesitate to contact the U.S. Commercial Service at the United States Mission to the European Union. We are located at Boulevard du Regent 27, Brussels B-1000, Belgium, and can be contacted via e-mail at: brussels.ec.office.box@mail.doc.gov ; For further information on the services provided by the Commercial Service at the European Union please visit our website: http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion