GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1260

Short Title:  Triad International Trade Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Seymour; Kaplan, Lee, Smith, Walker, Cochrane, Shaw, Daniel, Sands, Folger, and Ward.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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June 29, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL TRADE COUNCIL.
Whereas, at a meeting of the N.C. Export Council in August of 1989, the Governor recommended that interested organizations cooperate to create cohesive action programs to generate export business, with the objective to move forward in a unified effort of planning, education, and implementation; and
Whereas, this effort should be directed primarily at new-to-market or underutilizing market manufacturers; and
Whereas, the organizers of Piedmont Triad International Trade Council (PTITC) hope to do precisely that, in an effort to coordinate regional activities to promote international trade by North Carolina's primary manufacturing area; and
Whereas, the PTITC will have a core of four organizations:  North Carolina World Trade Association-Piedmont Triad Chapter, World Trade Center-Piedmont Triad, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Schools of Technology and Business, and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Bryan School of Business and Economics; and
Whereas, these organizations and institutions will provide a variety of services, and support and will be a cohesive core for delivering assistance to the international business community; and
Whereas, several Piedmont Triad area organizations have participated in the creation of the PTITC and have stated their support for the concept.  The following are those supporters: The Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce, High Point Chamber of Commerce, Winston-Salem Business, Inc., Economic Development, the Regional Office for International Visitors; and
Whereas, the purpose of PTITC is to assist businesses of all types in the Piedmont Triad region to develop international trade activities to the fullest.  To accomplish this it will make available to the business community a variety of services including technological assistance, data and information on goods and services wanted and for sale, educational seminars and workshops to provide businesses with current information on business opportunities, legal assistance, technical innovations, and specialized assistance to individual businesses to increase their international trade potential.
Whereas, the core organizations of the PTITC each has something of particular value to offer the international business community, and together they can provide a great deal more than can be offered separately; and
Whereas, NCWTA-Triad Chapter's purpose is to promote a greater interest in international trade and a better understanding of its advantages to private sector organizations in the Triad area interested in export, import, and/or overseas investment.  Members are provided a networking organization which offers opportunities to exchange information with other businesses and to build expertise in the international business arena.  Their quality programs include foreign Ambassadors, United States and State government officials, and executives of firms with distinguished and successful records in international trade; and
Whereas, the World Trade Center-Piedmont Triad has three objectives:
(1)	To increase exports from manufacturers within the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina,
(2)	To stimulate the marketing of the highly specialized and unique technical services which are available in the Piedmont Triad to overseas projects,
(3)	To create a positive and optimistic business environment that will enhance the attractiveness of the region as a location for new or transferring companies; and
Whereas, the WTC-PT is a data and information organization which makes available market information from 177 World Trade Centers from around the world.  Other services include trade information, educational services, and the organization of trade missions; and
Whereas, the Bryan School of Business and Economics, UNC Greensboro, through a variety of services and activities provided by its faculty and the NCWTA-UNCG student chapter, aims to create a climate conducive to expanding the ability of the Piedmont Triad to engage in international commerce. The Bryan School will accomplish this mission by providing a number of services to the NCWTA-PT and WTC-PT; and
Whereas, the School of Technology at NCATSU has the capability to furnish a variety of technological services to the international business community.  It can efficiently operate the "Network Bulletin Board" for WTC-PT, offer worldwide electronic communications links to small businesses that have those capabilities, provide a variety of databases such as exchange rates, clipping services, etc., international internships, and provide consulting service for solving technological deployment problems.  The School of Technology will also provide businesses with workshops on the implementation and use of a variety of technologies which can increase the efficiency of a business engaged in international trade.  These include automated material handling, robotics, sensor technology, CAD/CAM, and other technological applications; and
Whereas, through coordination and team work with the NCATSU School of Business and the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG, the School of Technology will furnish "Cross-Function Application Teams" as a service to Triad businesses.  This problem-solving service will provide expertise and information to the technical/manufacturing business community; and
Whereas, the School of Business at NCATSU aims to increase its linkages to the business community in general and towards improving international commerce activities in the Piedmont Triad area specifically.  Additionally, problem-solving services will be provided to the technical and manufacturing community.  Student organizations will be used to assist faculty in accomplishing these activities; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the World Trade Center, Piedmont Triad, NC, Inc., the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year to assist the Piedmont Triad International Trade Council.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.