Ole REI
Mission Produces Free Trade Zone Author: Shaun Schafer
Article Text:
A trade mission to Paraguay apparently will produce a free trade
zone between the South American country and the southern Oklahoma town of
Durant.
Kevin Chambers, director of the International Trade and Investment
Division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said a trade mission that
just returned from Paraguay yielded new opportunities for Oklahomans,
including the offer of a free trade zone.
"This proposal is promising for Oklahoma businesses who desire to
enter the MERCOSUR common market countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay,
Chile and Paraguay," Chambers said.
The Paraguayan National Administration of Ports and Navigation
proposed the free trade zone after learning of the efforts of Rural
Enterprises Inc. to receive approval on a proposed free trade zone in
southern Oklahoma. Rick Ford and Kenny Simpson of REI were members of the
delegation, along with state House Majority Leader Rep. Tommy Thomas,
state Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Susan Smith Nash, who
represented the Commerce Department and organized the mission.
"The Oklahoma Trade Mission was of paramount importance to us as we
seek to enter international markets," said Cesar Cruz, president of
Paraguay's ports and navigation authority. "We are willing to officially
offer a free trade zone for Oklahoma goods when the Oklahoma free trade
zone is approved, and we would also like for Oklahomans to understand more
about our Paraguayan Waterway Development project, which offers important
investment opportunities. " Although the zone would be unable to affect
tariffs between the nations, REI and Paraguay are evidently working to
provide a set of services to traders between Oklahoma and the South
American country.
During their mission, the Oklahoma delegation met with officials of
the Paraguayan Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry,
ProParaguay, the Paraguayan Senate and House of Representatives, the
Association of Paraguayan Professionals Graduated in the United States,
the Paraguayan-American Cultural Center, the Paraguayan-American Chamber
of Commerce, and the ports and navigation authority.
According to Paraguay's Ministry of External Relations, the
Oklahoma mission was the first trade mission ever from any U.S. state to
Paraguay.
Copyright 1997 Tulsa World. World Publishing
Co.
Record Number: 639153 | ||||
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