Feature: doing business in Central and Eastern Europe - a resource guide

US Department of State Dispatch, April 25, 1994 by Juanita Adams, Jim Pinkelman

Polish-American Enterprise Fund 535 Madison Avenue, 33rd Floor New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 339-8330 Fax: (212) 339-8359

Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund 1620 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 Tel: (202) 467-5444 Fax: (202) 467-5469

Czech-and Slovak-American Enterprise Fund 1620 I Street, NW, Suite 703 Washington, DC 20006 Tel: (202) 467-5480 Fax: (202) 467-5466

Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2080 Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: (312) 629-2500 Fax: (312) 629-2929

American Business and Private

Sector Development Initiative (ABI)

In March 1991, the United States announced the American Business and Private Sector Development Initiative (ABI). This $46-million initiative is designed to promote more U.S. investment, participation by U.S. firms in infrastructure development, and increased involvement of small- and medium-sized U.S. companies in bilateral trade. ABI aims to transfer U.S. commercial expertise and investment in agriculture, agribusiness, energy, environment, telecommunications, and housing. ABI's components are the:

Eastern Europe Business Information Center (EEBIC). The Department of Commerce established EEBIC in January 1990 to serve as an information clearinghouse. EEBIC provides information on exporting, financing, and joint ventures, as well as referrals to other agencies such as the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) and OPIC. The center has responded to more than 125,000 requests for information from U.S. firms and has developed a computerized database of more a computerized database of more than 12,000 small- and medium-sized U.S. firms interested in pursuing business opportunities in CEE countries.

Under ABI, EEBIc has expanded its services by developing and disseminating information on key CEE industries and business opportunities. Through its publication service, "Eastern Europe Looks for Partners," EEBIC alerts firms to joint venture and other business opportunities. EEBIC also publishes the Eastern Europe Business Bulletin, a newsletter that informs U.S. companies of recent developments in the region and of U.S. Government and private sector programs to facilitate business in Eastern Europe.

Consortia of American Businesses in Eastern Europe (CABEE). CABEE, initiated by the Department of Commerce, supports groups of small-and medium-sized U.S. companies that wish to enter the CEE market. Grants assist U.S trade and business associations in selected sectors in establishing a presence in the region. The program is designed for companies that may lack the capacity or the resources to enter the market on their own. To date, five U.S. trade-producer and are providing been established and are providing their members with market surveys, lists of potential joint-venture partners, and guids on how to do business in CEE. Associations supported under the ABI include the American Home Builders and Suppliers Association, Sun Diamond Growers of California, Telecommunications Industry Association, Coalition for International Research and Assistance (environment), and the Agricultural (Machinery and Supplies Association. As of July 1993, $138 million in U.S. export sales have been attributed to the CABEE program.