October 18, 2002 -- Using an $180,000 grant from the U.S. Commerce Department, matched by $360,000 in association commitments, NPES has announced plans to develop the world’s first online, multimedia, dual-language E-Commerce Distribution Network to serve the greater China marketplace. The announcement was made at an October 8 news conference during GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2002 in Chicago. The Shanghai-based E-distribution system will strengthen links among U.S. suppliers of graphic media communications technologies and Chinese dealers, agents and distributors, as well as supporting dissemination of product information, technical training and product support, and flexible e-communication among those involved in marketing U.S. products in China. NPES President Regis J. Delmontagne said the new system could boost the market share of U.S. companies in China by 10 percent over the next five years, generating up to $80 million annually in additional sales revenue. Delmontagne said NPES International Trade programs have consistently found that the most urgent need of small and medium sized businesses trying to enter the China market is for access to independent, reliable commercial agents and distributors. The grant was awarded through the Commerce Department’s Market Development Cooperator Program, the same agency that provided startup funding for the launch of the NPES-sponsored U.S.-Sino Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies Training Center, which was launched in Shanghai in 1997. For more information contact Director of International Trade Michael Hurley at 703/264-7200, or e-mail [email protected].