GLOBAL MARKET HAS TIES TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Missouri businesses exported $7.7 billion in goods and products to 200 countries last year. Many of those exports came from small businesses in Southeast Missouri.

"When you fill a barge with wheat and it's poured into the hold of a ship that pulls into a port, that's certainly international business," said Buz Sutherland of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

Area business exports aren't limited to agricultural products. a

"People would be surprised at the size of the company that's doing international business," Sutherland said.

A Sikeston-based company that manufactures fabric for plant protection and weed control exports its product to Canada, Japan, Mexico and South America.

The company benefited from a program with the Export-Import Bank of the United States that extends credit to businesses exporting their U.S-made goods.

Despite companies moving operations overseas or consolidating factories to better compete in a global market, Southeast Missouri is holding its own in the world of business, area business leaders say.

Certainly there is competition on a grand scale when local businesses compete against similar companies in other parts of the world, but there are some advantages for U.S. companies, said Sutherland.

The Internet has been an equalizer in pitting smaller companies against larger ones.

"It's way too early to say the Internet has been the single most-used international trade tool," Sutherland said. "The jury is still out, but it's been an international component."

Although there are a number of businesses that already operate globally, now is the time for companies to consider entering the international marketplace, Sutherland said.

"With economic times being as good as they are, now is the time to be gearing up for international trade," he said.

Economic cycles, though high now, will eventually drop and cycle again.

"We've had a wonderful run but the fact is it's not going to continue forever," he said.

The Small Business Development Center works as a resource center for people operating small businesses or anyone interested in opening a small business, particularly one with an international impact.

The center is a satellite office for the World Trade Center of St. Louis and works with the Export Assistance Center.

There are plenty of things to consider when looking at the international market. Sutherland advises. Here are some things:

* Do your homework.

"Get all the available trade information," he said. Finding out about a country and the cultural and business mores is just as important as knowing a product and market niche. "The international arena is a whole new ball game."

* Get expert advice about business transactions.

Questions to consider include: Should you lend credit and what are your rights and responsibilities as a business owner?

* Understand customs and tariffs in the country you are exporting to.

"There are cultures where gratuities are expected," he said. "You need to understand what the regulations and the customs and tariffs" for every country where you receive or send shipments.

Commuting patterns for jobs in Cape Girardeau County.

County of residence No. workers Percentage

Scott County 3,212 9.5

Bollinger County 1,229 3.7

Perry County 687 2.0

Alexander County, Ill. 610 1.8

Stoddard County 405 1.2

Total number of workers from other counties: 7,142 21.2%

Source: Missouri Works Web site http://mo.works.state.mo.us/lmi/