'Exporting 101' organized by Amherst Chamber

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service, Department of Commerce, are partnering to offer an introduction to exporting seminar to area manufacturers looking to expand their business overseas.

The seminar, "Exporting 101," will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Bryant & Stratton College, 40 Hazelwood Drive, Amherst.

This seminar is open to members of any local Western New York Chamber of Commerce and to nonmembers. It is geared specifically toward manufacturers that are already successful domestically and are looking to expand that success overseas.

According to the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. exports in the past 25 years have increased five-fold from $224 billion to more than $1.1 trillion in 2004. Small and medium-sized firms account for the vast majority of growth in new exporters and create 70 percent of the new jobs in America.

One of 10 American jobs and one in five manufacturing jobs are supported by exports. Altogether, about 12 million U.S. jobs depend upon exports.

"Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers live outside the U.S.," said Gale Seereiter, international trade specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service. "And because the world's consumers know U.S. products are excellent, our companies enjoy a competitive advantage."

Seereiter is one of three speakers who will be presenting during the "Exporting 101" seminar. Joining her will be Jon Yormick, an international attorney with the firm Yormick & Associates, and John Vilardo, vice president of international trade finance at M&T Bank.

Topics of discussion will include trade finance, terms of sale, incoterms (international commercial terms), Export-Import Bank and Small Business Administration services, export management system, export administration regulation, finding international partners and export documentation.

The cost of the seminar will be $25 for members of any local Western New York Chamber of Commerce and $30 for nonchamber members.

Registration is required as space is limited. To register, call the Amherst Chamber of Commerce at 632-6905.