Below, from Durbin……
CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will host an export promotion forum designed to support job retention and growth among Illinois’ small and medium-sized businesses. The forum will highlight government resources available to businesses interested in expanding export sales into new markets.
Durbin will be joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, U.S. Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and the Export Import Bank of the U.S. Chairman and President Fred Hochberg, who will each discuss how their department or agency can assist small businesses in increasing exports.
Forum topics will include: identifying target markets and business partners, trade finance, export credit insurance, export working capital loans, and breaking down barriers to exports. Durbin will discuss his proposal to increase funding for export promotion agencies such as the SBA, Department of Commerce, USTR, and the Ex-Im Bank so that small businesses have stronger technical support when they try to expand overseas. The bill is expected to be debated when the Senate reconvenes in mid-April.
DATE: MONDAY, APRIL 5
TIME: 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM
(Remarks / audience Q&A with Durbin, Locke, Mills, Kirk and Hochberg)
11:00 AM
(Department/agency representatives discuss resources available to businesses, and four local small businesses share their export success stories)
LOCATION: Gleacher Center at the University of Chicago
6th Floor Executive Dining Room
450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, IL
-30-