Effective 28 Aug 1989

620.171. Export development office created, purpose — powers and duties. — 1. There is hereby created within the department of economic development the "Missouri Export Development Office". The office shall work to expand job opportunities of Missouri's work force by increasing the export of Missouri industrial, commercial or manufactured goods and services of small and medium-sized businesses through the provision of information, technical assistance, and other export trade assistance.

2. The Missouri export development office shall have the power and authority to carry out the following functions:

(1) Coordinate to the maximum extent possible the efforts of the office with programs and goals of the United States export-import bank, the foreign credit insurance association, and other private and public programs designed to provide export assistance and export-related financing;

(2) Establish a network of contacts between those public and private organizations which provide information, technical assistance, financial support of exporting, and other export trade activities;

(3) Assemble, publish and disseminate information to Missouri exporters on export opportunities, techniques of exporting, sources of public and private export assistance, and sources of export-related financing;

(4) Provide individual small and medium-sized businesses with information and technical assistance related to exporting and export financing;

(5) Participate with governments or private industry in programs for technical assistance, technology transfer or other export trade activities;

(6) Undertake or commission studies or methods to increase financial resources to expand the export of Missouri goods and services;

(7) Work in conjunction with the Missouri department of agriculture in the referral of potential exporters of agricultural commodities to the board for the securing of export-related financing;

(8) Issue an annual report explaining the program, its needs and recommended changes. The report shall include an evaluation of the following:

(a) Participation of financial institutions in export financing programs;

(b) Export volume of Missouri firms which provide such information to the export development office;

(c) Access of small and medium-sized businesses to export financing programs.

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(L. 1989 H.B. 378 §§ 13, 14)