For Immediate Release:January 5, 2007
Contact:Jennifer Scoggins (202) 482-3809
 Tony Reno (Hong Kong) 852-2521-7412

U.S. Commercial Service and Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) Inc. Launch Initiative to Promote U.S. Small Business Exports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of a new initiative that makes it easier for U.S. sellers to do business with Asian buyers, the U.S. Commercial Service and Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) Inc. are inviting U.S. companies to participate in a webinar on Jan. 11, 2007. The webinar will focus on how U.S. companies can comply with China’s new regulations concerning the sale of electronic information products in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

This is the first in a series of events aimed at boosting U.S.-Asia trade through cooperative public-private sector export tools and resources. Under the initiative, Dow Jones Asia will provide ongoing support to U.S. Commercial Service efforts that boost exports from small-and medium-sized businesses.

“U.S. companies continue to look to Asia as a dynamic growth market to do business. They offer some of the most innovative and cost-competitive products and services,” said Israel Hernandez, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director-General of the U.S. Commercial Service. “The partnership with Dow Jones Asia will help inform and introduce small-and medium-sized U.S. companies to Asian buyers, making it easier to do business and helping to grow our commercial relationship."

Through this agreement, Dow Jones Asia will inform its customers about the benefits of the U.S. Commercial Service’s worldwide export assistance network, which includes 109 U.S. Export Assistance Centers and locations at American embassies and consulates. This network provides end-to-end export solutions for American companies and works to partner foreign buyers with U.S. sellers through trade events and other outreach activities.

Elements of the agreement include joint U.S. Commercial Service and Dow Jones Asia trade promotion seminars for businesses, direct marketing campaigns, and web site links. By joining forces with the U.S. Commercial Service, Dow Jones Asia will support new and existing U.S. small and medium-sized exporters, while simultaneously helping Asian buyers link up with U.S. products and services through its extensive news resources.

“With our various print and online publications reaching and influencing more decision makers with commercial interests in China than any other, we look forward to making a significant contribution to this partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service and to helping them meet their objectives,” said Olivier Legrand, Marketing Director of Dow Jones Asia. “At the same time, businesses reached by our services will benefit from a heightened awareness of the Commercial Service’s export promotion activities.”

Dow Jones Asia publishes The Wall Street Journal Asia, the Far Eastern Economic Review, and “The Wall Street Journal Briefing: China Business,” distributed weekly via email to subscribers, providing specialized information and analysis for international companies whose business or investments involve China. The Wall Street Journal Asia also can be found at The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, and The Wall Street Journal Asia is published online in Chinese at Chinese.wsj.com.

Both U.S. sellers and Asian buyers can access Commercial Service programs and matchmaking events through their local Commercial Service office at http://www.buyusa.gov/home/worldwide_us.html. For details on the China webinar, visit www.export.gov/China.