“IF TRADE IS THE WEALTH OF NATIONS, TRAINING IS KEY”

LOS ANGELES, CA - Newscasters report a big drop in US exports, but the issue of American consumerism is virtually ignored, causing citizens and government agencies to have big concerns over the state of our economy. Recent reports indicate the United States has fallen from its position as leading exporter of goods, food products and services while China, new to open markets, has quickly risen.

It seems the Chinese have discovered a golden rule, that trade is the wealth of nations. In the US, trade seems to be part of a secret society; it is the wealth of a few large corporations whose interests collide with the prosperity of our nation.

International trade is not left to some whim or sudden surge in demand for products from China. The US allows substantial imports from China and the rest of Asia to glut our docks, enticing us to buy foreign goods rather than encouraging us to sell our own products. In addition, large domestic corporations have set up shop on foreign soil, taking advantage of cheap foreign labor and robbing the homeland of prospects for trade.

During the Eisenhower era there was a dramatic dip in our economy and, when asked what to do about fixing it, Ike replied, “What we need is a lot more salesmen to market our goods overseas.” It was true then and it is truer today.

China and India are training exporters and importers in all of the details of finding and cultivating trading partners, while we stand by, watching our exports dwindle and our warehouses bulging with foreign imports.

Imagine America playing catch up to China; that’s enough to surprise anyone over the age of 45. We need to begin training agents immediately if there is any hope of reducing the trade deficit that is robbing us of wealth day by day. America must return to a positive trade balance if we are to keep our well-earned place in the international markets.

America loans billions of dollars to foreign countries to help build their infrastructure. Nations that depend on us for financial aid are required to spend those dollars back with us, to purchase American goods and services. The problem is, very few of us know how to conduct trade transactions.

Our schools must begin training exporters to facilitate trade transactions through programs such as The WBE.NET Global Internet Trade Course for Students™, an approved course curriculum developed by Roosevelt Roby a Los Angeles based entrepreneur.

“We need to begin training a lot more US traders,” admits Roby, “starting with our young people while they are still in school. The technology has made it possible for students to graduate from high school with skills that can easily be translated into many types of careers; from product development and entrepreneurial ventures to international banking, freight forwarding and customs brokers. This is a serious national priority that up to now has been neglected and ignored.”

For nearly 20 years, Roby has worked tirelessly to promote US exports and bring trade education and training to the American people. He established the World Business Exchange Network [www.wbe.net] a global trade association, and co-authored course curriculum that is used in the classrooms of K-12 and higher education to teach students methods of conducting trade transactions over the Internet.

Elected officials, from former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, to California Governor Gray Davis and former President Bill Clinton, have expressed tremendous interest in the ability of the WBE.NET Global Internet Trade Course curriculum to motivate students to learn about international exporting. But very little has been done to implement this program in our schools.

Roby has lobbied across the nation, from Sacramento to Washington, DC trying to convince agencies to adopt his program. But, with school budgets disappearing and so much chaos in the system, it has been a long, slow process.

He installed the course in several Los Angeles area schools, financing the venture from proceeds of his commercial operations. He was able to obtain aid from the California State Lottery, which financed a Sacramento area high school district. The course has also been accepted by the Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice System to be installed in Juvenile Detention Camps. The course has been proven to increase students’ math and reading skills, to improve grades over all required subjects and to motivate students to learn.

For more information about export training and trade opportunities, contact The World Business Exchange Network, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90045; visit their website [http://www.wbe.net]; or call 1-800-537-7347 to request a free brochure.
If trade is the wealth of nations, training is key. According to the US Dept of Commerce, every billion dollars in trade creates twenty thousand new jobs. All businesses, whether large or small, can benefit from the export skills students bring to the job market.
Our government must provide encouragement and aid to entrepreneurs and businesses to increase their productivity and begin training as trade agents, or we will keep shrinking our markets while aiding others to expand their own. #####