ROGERS, Ark. – The World Trade Center Arkansas and the Canadian Consulate General in Dallas are presenting a free seminar on how to do business with Canada. The event will take place from 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers. The event is open to Arkansas businesses, students, faculty and to members of the public interested in the topic. Registration for the seminar is free and open until 1 pm on Wednesday.

The seminar will be presented by Vasken Khabayan, the Consul General of Canada in Dallas (acting), and Delon Chan, the Consul and Trade Commissioner.

“With a low entry-barrier, established supply chains, and NAFTA, Canada has become an alluring market for U.S. businesses,” Chan said. “Arkansas has a trade surplus with Canada and Arkansas companies exported over $1.2 billion in goods to Canada last year alone. Whether you want to import or export, Canada is a great place to start.”

Khabayan will begin the presentation with an overview of the trade relationship between Canada and Arkansas along with its importance.

“We are very pleased to have Consul General Khabayan visit Arkansas,” said Dan Hendrix, president and CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas. “Canada is Arkansas’ largest trading partner and this seminar is a great opportunity for Arkansas businesses and agriculture producers to increase market access with Canada.”

Director of Western Hemisphere Trade for the Center Melvin Torres added that Arkansas exports to Canada nearly twice as much as it imports. “Our goal with this seminar is to help Arkansas companies understand the relationship and export to Canada.”

Khabayan joined the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in 2003 and is responsible for the promotion of Canadian interests in the areas of political and economic relations, investment and trade, public affairs and consular affairs in the five-state territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

He was most recently posted at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., from August 2011 until July 2015, where he was responsible for government procurement, trade in non-agricultural goods, trade remedies and softwood lumber.

The seminar will cover:

• Overview of Canada's economy.
• Why Canada matters to Arkansas.
• What makes Canada a great partner for business.
• How your company can benefit by doing business with Canada.
• Canadian market entry strategies.
• Selling to the Canadian federal government.
• Supplier diversity opportunities.
• Canadian corporate registration procedures.
• Canadian labeling requirements.
• Labor mobility.
• How the Consulate General of Canada can assist you in doing business with Canada.

There will be opportunities for questions and answers during the seminar. For more information on the seminar, visit arwtc.org/business-with-canada or contact Melvin Torres, director of Western Hemisphere trade for the World Trade Center Arkansas at melvint@arwtc.org.

About the World Trade Center Arkansas: The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.