3886                                                     VETOES

(12)  Maryland Bicentennial Commission for the
Commemoration of the American Revolution;

(13)  Division of Tourism;

(14)  Commission on Afro-American History and Culture;

(15)  Commission on Indian Affairs;

(16)  Maryland Housing Policy Commission[.]; AND

(17)  OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
264.

(A)  THERE IS AN OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE.

(B)  IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSE SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION
(A) OF THIS SECTION, THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHALL:

(1) ENCOURAGE EXISTING AND POTENTIAL EXPORTING

COMPANIES TO INCREASE THEIR EXPORT ACTIVITIES BY:

(1) ENCOURAGE MARYLAND BUSINESSES TO INCREASE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ACTIVITIES, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON EXPORTS,
BY:

(I)  PROVIDING INFORMATIONAL AND CONSULTATIVE
SERVICES ON THE EXPORT INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROCESS INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, MARKET RESEARCH AND SELECTION, MARKETING
TECHNIQUES AND RISKS, FOREIGN TRADE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, AND THE
AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE OR PUBLIC FINANCING;

(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;