Agenda April 2008

Agenda
April

Date/Time

Activity/ Speaker

Thursday, April 24

9:15- 9:30 AM

Welcoming Remarks
Luz Hopewell, Director of International Trade
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

9:30 - 9:45

Agenda Overview/Discussion Goal
Stephen Sullivan, SBA

9:45 - 11:00

Meeting with the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to discuss proposed collaboration to link trade to IIC’s Finpyme program.

11:00- 11:10 Break

11:10- 11:30 Discussion of IIC proposal

11:30- 12:15 Meeting with SBDC International Trade Center Representative Jody Keenan of George Mason University (to discuss the SBDC ITC model for preparing small business to participate in international trade.)

12:15- 1:25 PM Break for Lunch

1:25- 2:40 PM
Meeting with David Gray, Knowledge & Learning Coordinator
Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank (to discuss international trade training and strategy for strengthening small business participation in multilateral development bank procurement/SME trade development efforts in the Americas.)

2:40- 2:45 PM
Break

2:45- 4:00 PM
Alysia Wilson, Director of Programs, Western Hemisphere, Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (organizer of Second Americas Competitiveness Forum)

4:00- 5:00 PM SBA proposal for theme of Third SME Congress/Discussion

Friday, April 25

8:45- 9:00 AM
Agenda overview
Stephen Sullivan, SBA

9:00- 9:30 AM
Discussion of previous days meetings and action implications.

9:30- 10:00 AM
Discussion- Venue options for Third SME Congress of the Americas on International Trade/Determination of host.

10:00- 10:45 AM
Discussion of potential themes, format, and promotional strategy for Third SME Congress

10:45- 10:55 AM
Break

10:55- 12:00 AM
Continuation- Discussion of potential themes, format, and promotional strategy for Third SME Congress

12:00- 12:30 PM
SME Congress Website

12:30- 1:15 PM
Lunch

1:15- 2:45 PM
Discussion of Next Steps/Action Plan SME Congress Steering Committee- To include encouraging broad regional participation in Third SME Congress; follow-up to signing of Inter-institutional MOU; and possible expansion/evolution of SME Congress Steering Committee to include Peru and/or Colombia, engagement with Canada, etc.

2:45- 2:55 PM
Break

2:55- 3:30 PM
Summary/Conclusions/Adjournment

*Date/Time*	*Activity/ Speaker*
Thursday, April 24
9:15- 9:30 AM	Welcoming Remarks Luz Hopewell, Director of International Trade U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
9:30 - 9:45	Agenda Overview/Discussion Goal Stephen Sullivan, SBA
9:45 - 11:00	Meeting with the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to discuss proposed collaboration to link trade to IIC’s Finpyme program.
11:00- 11:10	Break
11:10- 11:30	Discussion of IIC proposal
11:30- 12:15	Meeting with SBDC International Trade Center Representative Jody Keenan of George Mason University (to discuss the SBDC ITC model for preparing small business to participate in international trade.)
12:15- 1:25 PM	Break for Lunch
1:25- 2:40 PM	Meeting with David Gray, Knowledge & Learning Coordinator Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank (to discuss international trade training and strategy for strengthening small business participation in multilateral development bank procurement/SME trade development efforts in the Americas.)
2:40- 2:45 PM	Break
2:45- 4:00 PM	Alysia Wilson, Director of Programs, Western Hemisphere, Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (organizer of Second Americas Competitiveness Forum)
4:00- 5:00 PM	SBA proposal for theme of Third SME Congress/Discussion
*Friday, April 25*
8:45- 9:00 AM	Agenda overview Stephen Sullivan, SBA
9:00- 9:30 AM	Discussion of previous days meetings and action implications.
9:30- 10:00 AM	Discussion- Venue options for Third SME Congress of the Americas on International Trade/Determination of host.
10:00- 10:45 AM	Discussion of potential themes, format, and promotional strategy for Third SME Congress
10:45- 10:55 AM	Break
10:55- 12:00 AM	Continuation- Discussion of potential themes, format, and promotional strategy for Third SME Congress
12:00- 12:30 PM	SME Congress Website
12:30- 1:15 PM	Lunch
1:15- 2:45 PM	Discussion of Next Steps/Action Plan SME Congress Steering Committee- To include encouraging broad regional participation in Third SME Congress; follow-up to signing of Inter-institutional MOU; and possible expansion/evolution of SME Congress Steering Committee to include Peru and/or Colombia, engagement with Canada, etc.
2:45- 2:55 PM	Break
2:55- 3:30 PM	Summary/Conclusions/Adjournment