HeadsUp Newsletter - Vol 3.09: September 2006

In March 1960, President Eisenhower requested his Secretary of Commerce to enlist the efforts of the business community to help the US government increase export opportunities for other small businesses. Thus, the National Export Expansion Committee was formed with 5 members. In 1962, the Council increased to 33 members.  From 1966 to 1967, Councils participated in 1,148 export seminars and reached out to 36,923 businesses.

President Nixon expanded on Eisenhower’s concept in 1974 by establishing an executive order of District Export Councils (DEC) throughout the United States. This order created 41 new nationwide DECs within the year and today, there are a total of 56 with 1500 members. DECs are comprised of the top international business men and women appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce, to provide current and practical information to local firms that want to export their goods and services. The DEC members volunteer their time to aid new and established businesses, contribute to student programs and partake in export policy level issues.

This year, the national DEC meeting will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana. DEC members believe that it is critical not only for New Orleans local businesses to get back into exporting, but it is just as impetrative for the overall health of the US economy to get out of the increasing trade deficit. One out of every 20 jobs in Louisiana is export supported and approximately 14% of allmanufacturing workers depend on exports for their jobs.

Louisiana's export shipments of goods in 2004 totaled $36 billion. Louisiana ranked 15th among the States in terms of total exports and exported globally to 188 foreign destinations. Louisiana's leading manufactured export growth category is petroleum and coal products. Other manufactured export categories are chemical and primary metal fabricators, transportation equipment, and machinery manufacturers. The State is also a major supplier of agricultural and livestock products.

Furthermore, these exports, for the most part, egress from the Port of New Orleans, as it is one of the busiest ports in the country hosting approximately 6,000 sea-going vessels annually. The port was closed and/or minimally operating until 6 months ago, but even with the reopening, the housing shortages have made it difficult for people to come back to work. Tourism revenue decreased significantly, which, in the past would bring in $5 billion a year. Today, many major attractions are still closed.

With a sincere attempt to help improve the exports and economy of Louisiana, the national DECs are assisting the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana to get back on the pathway to economic prosperity.

To find out more about District Export Councils, please log on to:
http://www.us-dec.com/html/home.html