Section 447.103 - International commerce division; powers and dutiesThe division of international commerce shall serve as the focal point of the state for international activity and shall:
(a) Conduct its own research and contract for outside research, when necessary, on such subjects as United States and foreign tariffs, United States and foreign nontariff barriers and business practices, trade statistics, individual country and industry markets, identification of the assets of this state in product offerings and investment opportunities, advances in international transport technology, and seaway and port service improvements.(b) Maintain a basic foreign trade library where the products of its research would be readily available.(c) Serve as the clearing house for the interchange of market and product information between industry of this state and foreign interests.(d) Prepare brochures, in foreign languages as required, which attractively and persuasively identify the international assets of this state in trade and investment.(e) Conduct specialized advertising programs in conjunction with specific promotional campaigns.(f) Collect and distribute to commercial libraries overseas directories, catalogues, brochures and other information of value to foreign businessmen.(g) Prepare articles for publication in state, national and foreign media.(h) Publish a series of specialized newsletters.(i) Prepare news releases on matters of timely interest.(j) Provide speakers bureau services for civic organizations and other private groups in this state.(k) Maintain continuing contacts with business of this state to encourage and, when appropriate, assist them in selling abroad.(l) Inform industrialists of this state of the advantages of overseas arrangements for local manufacturing through joint ventures and licensing.(m) Develop programs of mutual assistance with banks, shipping agents, combination export managers, freight forwarders, international consultants, and other trade intermediaries of this state.(n) Encourage and assist the expansion of international trade activities of the chambers of commerce, development commissions, trade associations and similar organizations in this state.(o) Maintain continuing contacts with federal agencies, the Congress, international organizations, foreign embassies, consulates and trade promotion offices in the United States, regional organizations, and colleges and universities.(p) Promote visits to this state by, and cooperate with, foreign businessmen and trade association representatives, to be coordinated where desirable with invitations to visit this state to the appropriate country's economic and commercial representatives in the United States.(q) Coordinate state activities when appropriate for state presentation before the United States trade commission, interstate commerce commission, trade information committee, federal maritime administration, congressional committees, and other similar bodies when the international interests of the state can thus be advanced.(r) Advertise and promote port utilization, including the mounting of missions to key shipping areas abroad.(s) Publish and distribute shipping schedules.(t) Serve as a central information and intelligence center for ports matters.(u) Coordinate intervention in Great Lakes rate and service cases.(v) Spearhead state activities to encourage improvements in the St. Lawrence seaway.(w) Coordinate more active and effective state participation in assisting local groups applying for foreign trade zones.1968, Act 24, Imd. Eff. 5/17/1968 .