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In August 1992, the City of Columbus accepted the invitation of the
United Nations to establish a Trade Point Center as part of a global
project called the Trade Efficiency Initiative.  The Columbus Trade
Point Center will be one of sixteen sites around the world to be
included in a pilot electronic network and the only pilot site to be
located in North America.  The response of Mayor Greg Lashutka and his
office, the Chamber of Commerce, and elements of private business and
the public sector has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. 

THE GLOBAL PROJECT

Under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD), the Trade Efficiency Initiative is committed to
increasing international trade through the use of currently available
information technology and communication resources.  The plans for the
Initiative as a whole include commencement of trading in 1993 and a
Global Trade Symposium in the fourth quarter of 1994. 

The essence of the Initiative and of each Trade Point Center is
information and its communication.  Each Center will feature the use
of video teleconferencing, interactive information networks (offering
bulletin boards, market data, and trade information) and the use of
electronic data interchange (EDI), and related technologies. The goals
are to make available and showcase ``paperless" trading and to
overcome many of the traditional obstacles created by geographic,
language, regulatory, and commercial barriers.  In several (but by no
means all) respects, the operations of the Trade point Centers will be
oriented toward small to medium-size businesses, the group for whom
these obstacles have most hindered access to international markets. 

THE COLUMBUS CENTER

The precise businesses and operating structures of the various Trade
Point Centers will vary, in response to the varieties of locally
unique resources and interests, but each will be characterized by
information and communication.  Because of the ready availability in
Central Ohio of many of the technological resources required to
conduct international electronic commerce, the Columbus Trade Point
Center will be one of the most advanced in the pilot network, in which
participating companies can perform virtually all of the communication
activities from their own offices. 

The business structure and plan of operation for the Columbus Trade
Point Center will be developed by a Task Force appointed by Mayor Greg
Lashutka.  The Task Force will have the advice of an Executive
Advisory Committee made up of leaders in the public and private
sectors.  The structure and plan is expected to be based on guidelines
of the United Nations and the state of existing technology, the strong
point of Central Ohio reflected in our position (even before the Trade
Center) as a world leader in electronic data communication and
processing. 

STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

The structure and operations plans to be developed by Mayor Lashutka's
Task Force is expected to deal with essential elements and could
include features (or alternatives of):

Direction and Execution. Center operations through a non-profit
corporation under the direction of a Board of Directors, to consist
predominantly of private sector representatives.  Broadly, the
two-year pilot phase might be executed by the Board of Directors in
substantial compliance with a plan of operations developed by the
Task Force. 

Offices. Office facilities could be obtained separately or
through space sharing during the initial two-year pilot phase with the
Chamber of Commerce or other established entities.  Staff is likely to
include at leas a Director (with proven experience with both
international trade and information technology), two assistants and
secretarial support.  Multi-lingual skills will be desired. 

Resources. Critical resources required for pilot operations
include (a) education and training, (b) one or more networks to
provide information and EDI services, (c) software, for use by trade
point center businesses, to access information resources and conduct
EDI using the UN/EDIFACT standards, and (d) a centrally located
teleconferencing center.  Because of technology available in Columbus,
personal computers and telecommunication infrastructure (which will be
required in other communities) should not be required here.  Sources
for these resources are to be encouraged to contribute their
availability during the pilot phase, in order to obtain the benefits
of association with the Trade Point Center in marketing their products
and services in this and other markets. 

Funding. Funding is to be provided from state and local resources.  A
combination of public and private sector funding is to be encouraged.
Possible scenarios include seed funds contributed by major Columbus
businesses, matching funds from the State and local governments and
some type of pay-as-you-go fee structure for business receiving
resources from the Trade Point Center.

Management Emphasis. The primary management function of the
trade point center, once resources have been acquired, will be to
promote education and participation by businesses, first to service
providers (banks, insurance companies, customs brokers, freight
forwarders, transport carriers) and then to buyers, sellers shippers
and receivers with real business contacts.

Additional Benefits. Although not essential to the pilot
project, establishing trading partnerships between businesses in the
various trade point communities will be encouraged.  A secondary
management function will be to monitor ongoing activities for
historical, educational, and promotional purposes in support of
UNCTAD's Trade Efficiency Initiative and the development of the trade
in Central Ohio.

Timing. The business plan might likely aim for initial
electronic activity by September, 1993.  Participating companies could
be expected to be invited to participate in the proposed Global Trade
Symposium intended for the fourth quarter in 1994. 

PRACTICAL REALIZATION

During the pilot period, and hopefully beyond that period, the Trade
Point Center will help prospective buyers and sellers to test
international markets for products and services, form contracts, make
deliveries, clear customs, effect payments, and so forth with vast y
increase efficiencies and without the extensive outlays for capital
goods and training which any one of them individually necessarily
expend for the same access and efficiency.  Of course, any resulting
trade will involve the providers of the payment and credit systems,
insurance, brokerage, transportation and the like. 

The success of the Columbus Trade Point Center will most principally
benefit its participant traders and service providers.  In so doing,
it will serve the objectives of the UN Project, enhance the economy
and reputation of the Central Ohio community, and follow the vision of
Mayor Lashutka, the Chamber of Commerce, and the government and
business leaders of the State of Ohio.