|                                                                                                                                                             |  | BISNIS HOSTS FIFTH ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|**BISNISHome PageSearchBISNISEmbassyReportsCountryReportsIndustryReportsPublicationsSourcesof FinanceLeadsand EventsExchangeRatesState ExportsOtherSources** |  | August 1997More than 300 guests attended the Fifth Annual BISNIS Open House, which was held June 12 at
the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC.  The open house was an occasion for
scores of U.S. companies to meet with officials from all 12 New Independent States to discuss
trade and investment opportunities.  Guests were also able to meet with representatives of other
U.S. Government agencies, including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Trade and Development Agency, the Peace
Corps, and others.  Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Tim Hauser
urged guests to make use of BISNIS, "which brings buyers and sellers together, facilitating
business transactions, giving thousands of U.S. companies a leg up on the global competition." 
Hauser noted that since 1992, "BISNIS has helped U.S. companies of all sizes in generating over
$1.6 billion worth of business" in the NIS countries.  For the complete text of Hauser's remarks,
visit BISNIS Online at www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis/hauser.htm.This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly
Independent States (BISNIS)