Export Financing Seminar
The World Trade Center Arkansas partnered with multiple organizations to hold a seminar called “Inside Export Financing” for Arkansas companies in need of financial programs and resources to help expand their markets overseas. The seminars took place on May 22 in Rogers and May 23 in Little Rock. Nearly 30 individuals representing 20 companies and organizations throughout the state attended the seminars.
Participant Experience
“Everything I learned from the speakers at Inside Export Financing saved our technology startup countless hours of unnecessary work and frustration,” said Catherine Baker, in-house counsel for Grainster, an agri-technology startup that provides an online trading platform for farmers and food buyers. “I realized part of the work necessary to execute our go-to-market strategy was already readily available – for free – from the World Trade Center Arkansas, EXIM Bank and other agencies. In addition to incorporating these resources into my own company, I am sharing them with other agricultural exporters in Arkansas.”
The seminars are part of the Center’s efforts to partner with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) as members of EXIM’s Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP). The Center joined the REPP program last June to better equip Arkansas companies with EXIM resources.
Other partners included the Little Rock Export Assistance Center for the U.S. Commercial Service, the Arkansas Small Business Administration and BKD, LLP, a CPA and advisory firm in Rogers who served as the event’s sponsors.
Presentation Topics
Expert presenters explained what export financing resources are available and how best to utilize them. Presenters and topics for the export financing seminars included:
- Exporting for Small Businesses – Melvin Torres, Director of Western Hemisphere Trade, World Trade Center Arkansas
- Trade Financing Solutions for Export Success – Aerek Stephens, Export Finance Manager, EXIM Bank
- U.S. Commercial Service Resources – James Aardappel, Director, Little Rock U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S.C.S.
- Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center – Jeff Salzer, Sr. Area Manager, Northwest Arkansas, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Export Tax Planning – Martin E. Martinez, CPA, MST & Eric W. Flueckiger, CPA, BKD, LLP.
“We encouraged Arkansas companies who export or who seek to export to attend either of these seminars,” said Melvin Torres, Director of Western Hemisphere Trade for the World Trade Center Arkansas. “Even for well-established exporters, there were be topics and resources covered that help reduce costs, increase profits or better streamline expansion strategies.”
For more information about export financing resources, visit arwtc.org/exim.
The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. The Center is part of the University of Arkansas and serves as the trade promotion arm for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.