WORLD TRADE CENTER ASSOCIATION AND IRANIAN TRADE ASSOCIATION TO HOST EVENT EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES IN IRAN FOR U.S. COMPANIES

LONG BEACH, CA – Due to recent changes in U.S. laws that govern doing business with Iran, trade between the United States and Iran has begun opening up. In order to better educate the public on these developments in US-Iranian trading, the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach and the Iranian Trade Association will host a panel discussion, “Trading With Iran: A New Beginning” on January 10, 2001 at the Long Beach World Trade Center.

Panelists at this event will include Paul Thanos, senior international trade specialist with the United States Department of Commerce; Al Mahdavi, the president of Total Transportation Concepts, a freight forwarder; John L. Bushnell of the Bureau of Export Administration; Shariar Afshar, the president of the Iranian Trade Association; and Sharie A. Brown, a lawyer with Foley and Lardner. Each panelist will explore issues relevant to trade with Iran and the surrounding Middle East region.

During 1999, the U.S. government published new rules and amendments to the OFAC Iranian Transactions Regulation in order to allow the export of American agricultural and medical goods to Iran, subject to OFAC licensing. More recently, on March 17, 2000, the Administration announced that it has made a policy change on lifting the import sanctions on Iranian carpets, pistachios, caviar and possibly other Iranian food products.

The cost to attend the event is $35 for World Trade Center Association and Iranian Trade Association members, and $50 for non-members. Please call the World Trade Center Association at 562-495-7070 for more information and to register.

About the Iranian Trade Association (ITA)
ITA is a U.S.-based, independent, and non-profit business and networking organization. ITA provides Iranian trade information, conference organization, and Iranian-American grassroots advocacy mobilization to lift the US unilateral trade sanctions on Iran. ITA is not a government agency and does not have any religious or political affiliations.

About the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach (WTCA LA – LB)
WTCA LA – LB is a premier membership-based trade organization and a leader within the global World Trade Centers Association network of over 300 offices in 100 countries. It is recognized as a primary provider of trade connections, resources and trade assistance, acting as the regional “clearinghouse” to help companies expand their international contacts and build their bottom line.

For more information, please contact:

Tara Norton
World Trade Center Association
350 South Figueroa, Suite 172
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 680-1888
tnorton@wtcanet.org

Shahriar Afshar, President
Iranian Trade Association
1250 Sixth Ave., Suite 211
San Diego, CA 92101 USA
Phone 858-554-1220
Fax 858-554-1210
WWW.IranianTrade.org
Info@IranianTrade.org