Mississippi World Trade Center, which is affiliated with the World Trade Centers Association, is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting international trade, investment and tourism. The organization seeks to develop and promote international events, programs, and services and to unify the State's efforts in the global marketplace. The World Trade Center is a resource to the public and private sectors on international opportunities and requests.

Mississippi World Trade Center
175 East Capitol Street, Suite 255
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Phone: (601) 353-0909
Fax: (601) 353-0974
Contact: Barbara Travis, Executive Director

Hinds International Trade Center, an arm of the Small Business Development Center, offers many resources and services to help companies with their international business needs. These services include counseling, seminars and training, and trade leads.

Located at: Eagle Ridge Conference Center
                   1500 Raymond Lake Road
                   Raymond, MS 39154
Mailing:       International Trade Center
                   Hinds Community College
                   PMB 11263
                   PO Box 1100
                   Raymond, MS 39154
Contact:      Jim Harper
Phone:        (601) 857-3581
Fax:             (601) 857-3474

The international division of the Mississippi Development Authority fosters economic growth, job creation, and internationalization of the state's economy. MDA promotes business development and exports, and it seeks to attract foreign capital. The international division is made up of trade specialists assigned by geographic region. They are responsible for helping to identify prospective buyers and assisting clients in their respective regions.

Mississippi Development Authority
Trade Bureau
PO Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205 USA
Phone: (601) 359-6672
Fax: (601) 359-3605
Contact: Elizabeth Cleveland, Director

The Export Import (ExIm) Bank is an independent federal government agency that helps finance the overseas sales of U.S. goods and services. Its mission is to create American jobs through exports. It provides guarantees of working capital loans for U.S. exporters, and it guarantees the repayment of loans or makes loans to foreign purchasers of U.S. goods and services. It also provides credit insurance that protects U.S. exporters against the risks of non-payment by foreign buyers for political or commercial reasons. It does not compete with commercial lenders, but assumes the risks they cannot accept. It must always have a reasonable assurance of repayment.

Export-Import Bank of the United States
1880 S. Dairy Ashford II Suite 585
Houston, TX 77077
Phone: (281) 721-0468
Fax: (281) 679-0156
Contact: Kelly Kemp

The Mississippi Economic Development Council serves as the voice for Mississippi's economic and community development professionals and their constituencies. MEDC establishes and advocates Mississippi's economic and community development agenda. MEDC facilitates a network of trained professionals and serves as a information resource hub for strategies for economic and community development.

Mississippi Economic Development Council
PO Box 3721
Jackson, MS 39207-3721
Phone: (601) 352-1909
Fax: (601) 352-2061
Contact: Carol Hardwick

Mississippi District Export Council members represent a cross-section of local public and private sector individuals willing to work in close concert with the Jackson Export Assistance Center to better serve the needs of the export community. Appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for their leadership abilities, knowledge of international trade, interest in export development, and willingness to devote their time to council activities, members devote their time and energy to council activities and assisting local firms export their products and services.

Contact: Jim Finley, Chairman
Phone: (601) 506-9075
Fax: (601) 965-4132

The mission of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is to regulate and promote agricultural-related businesses within the state and to promote Mississippi's products throughout both the state and the rest of the world for the benefit of all Mississippi citizens.

Mississippi Department of Agriculture
121 North Jefferson Street
Jackson, MS 39201
Contact: Patrick Sullivan
Phone: (601) 3589-1158

Promoting and protecting the interests of manufacturers in Mississippi, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association currently has membership of more than 2,000 manufacturers and business firms. They have an active staff who keep the interests of Mississippi business and manufacturing in mind.

Mississippi Manufacturers Association
PO Box 22607
Jackson, MS 39225-2607
Contact: Jay Moon
Phone: (601) 948-1222
Fax: (601) 948-1475
Jay@N0SPAM.mma-web.org

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) . The SBA is a federal agency, provides assistance to exporters with loan guarantees, management assistance and export legal assistance. Their Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) provides short term financing to small business for export related transactions. They also have an International Trade Loan (ITL) program that provides long-term financing to exporters. Management assistance is available through their Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Export legal assistance is available through their Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN).

U.S. Small Business Administration, Jackson Office
AmSouth Bank Plaza
210 E. Capitol Street, Suite 900
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
PH: (601) 965-4378
FAX: (601) 965-5629

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) promotes the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses. MBDA is the only federal agency that specifically assists minority businesses of all sizes.

MBDA
JoAnn Hill
Atlanta National Enterprise Center W. Peachtree St., NW, Suite 1715
Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3516
404-730-3300
jhill@N0SPAM.mbda.gov

The Jackson Export Assistance Center also works closely with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). OPIC helps U.S. businesses invest overseas, fosters economic development in new and emerging markets, complements the private sector in managing the risks associated with foreign direct investment, and supports U.S. foreign policy. The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation serves as a Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization in the east central part of the state. The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce is an economic and community development organization in Mississippi's Capital Community.

Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce Contact:
Duane A. O'Neill, President