1614                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 119

(II)  DEVELOPING PUBLICATIONS TO FACILITATE THE
EXCHANGE OF PRODUCT AND SERVICES INFORMATION BETWEEN MARYLAND
BUSINESSES AND FOREIGN BUSINESSES;

(III)  IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, INITIATING AND ORGANIZING TRADE MISSIONS TO
AND FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND PARTICIPATION IN TRADE FAIRS;

(IV)  SERVING AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR SEMINARS
AND CONFERENCES BEING OFFERED BY THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS
AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS TO SUPPLEMENT EXISTING EDUCATIONAL
OFFERINGS;

(V)  ESTABLISHING AN OUTREACH PROGRAM TO SMALL
AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES WITH EXPORT POTENTIAL THAT PROVIDES
COUNSELING AND THAT UTILIZES EXPERIENCED PRIVATE SECTOR EXPORTERS
AND OTHER QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS;

(VI)  ASSISTING, WHERE APPROPRIATE, IN OBTAINING
EXPORT RELATED FINANCING THROUGH THE MARYLAND INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY AND OTHER FEDERAL, LOCAL, OR
PRIVATE PROGRAMS; AND

(VII)  CHANNELING TRADE LEADS AND PROVIDING A
LIST OF PRESCREENED FOREIGN INTERMEDIARIES.

(2)  ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION BY
MARYLAND BUSINESSES IN BARTER AND COUNTER TRADE TRANSACTIONS AND
JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTIONS, WHERE APPROPRIATE, BY:

(I)  PROVIDING INFORMATIONAL AND CONSULTATIVE
SERVICES ON, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS, LAWS,
AND REGULATIONS INVOLVED IN BARTER AND JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION
THESE TRANSACTIONS;

(II)  FACILITATING THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE MARYLAND BUSINESS AND COUNTERPART FOREIGN BUSINESS
INVOLVED IN THESE TRANSACTIONS; AND

(III)  PROVIDING, IN COOPERATION WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, A LISTING OF POTENTIAL BARTER AND JOINT VENTURE
OPPORTUNITIES.

(3)  COORDINATE ITS PROGRAMS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF
AGRICULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND
OTHER APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS.

(4)  ASSUME LEAD AGENCY STATUS WITH RESPECT TO THE
MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIPS.

(5)  ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE REGIONAL EFFORTS TO
DEVELOP LOCAL AND REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROGRAMS AND
EXPERTISE, CONSISTENT WITH STATE EFFORTS, THROUGH TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND USE OF MATCHING GRANTS TO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE