April workshop aims to teach small businesses how to export

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, through the CNMI Department of Commerce, announced the availability of a new program under the State Trade Export Program, funded in part through the Small Business Administration, to assist the CNMI’s eligible small businesses who wish to take the opportunity to participate at international trade shows, trade missions or reverse trade missions, to enter new markets or grow existing ones.

The State Trade Export Program or STEP program is a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration that was recently awarded to the CNMI Department of Commerce. This program is to provide assistance and services through SBA resource partners to eligible small businesses in the CNMI. The STEP program aims at increasing the number of small businesses that are exporting, and increase the value of exports by small businesses in the states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

“This is an opportunity for existing small businesses to avail of this program in terms of expanding their locally made or produced products into the foreign markets. In addition, the program also offers an opportunity for a new entity who wishes to learn and understand the dynamics of exporting through the Foreign Trade Development Program,” said Perry Inos Jr., NMI STEP point of contact for Commerce.

The Foreign Trade Development Program is designed to provide CNMI small businesses the opportunity to engage in the foreign trade and export marketing. This includes providing the CNMI small business program participants with appropriate export organizational sessions and technical assistance to prepare and address the various dynamics of exporting to foreign markets.

“The FTDP program will provide the program participants with foreign trade and exporting elements through series of export organizational sessions, which will be conducted by export industry experts. Upon successful completion of the FTDP, participants will be required to develop an Export Business Plan. The participants will have their Export plan reviewed and guided by the CNMI STEP team and SBA resource partners,” added Inos.

There will be an Export 101 workshop scheduled for April 11-12, 2012, from 8am to 4pm, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Susupe. Any interested small business who wishes to participate in this opportunity may call Inos at (670) 664-3023, or David R. Maratita at (670) 664-3065, or email: NMISTEP.POC@commerce.gov.mp. (Office of the Governor)