INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL AREAS USING EXPERT SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY

RURAL AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE GAINING ACCESS TO, AND UTILIZING, ADVANCED COMPUTER TECHNOL0GY; PARTICULARLY TECHNOLOGY WHICH PROVIDES READY ACCESS TO THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROCESS. WHILE THERE ARE A VARIETY OF COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEMS WHICH FURNISH TRADE LEADS OR ASSIST WITH DOCUMENT PREPARATION, THERE IS A LACK OF EASILY ACCESSIBLE, COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE ON "HOW TO" EXPORT. THIS PROJECT WILL TEST THE FEASIBILITY BRINGING AUTOMATED TRADE PROCESS GUIDANCE TO BUSINESSES, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND YOUTH IN RURAL AMERICA BY MODIFYING AN EXISTING COMPUTER EXPERT SYSTEM FOR THE UNIQUE DEMANDS OF RURAL AREAS. TWO DELIVERABLES WILL RESULT FROM THIS PROJECT: 1) A SET OF RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS TO BE MADE TO AN EXISTING EXPORT EXPERT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT RURAL AREA BUSINESSES AND YOUTH WHO WANT TO FUNCTION ACTIVELY AND COMPETIVIVELY IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND 2) A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT EXPERT SYSTEM PROTOTYPE WHICH WILL COVER EXPORT MARKETING ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL AREAS. THIS PROTOTYPE WILL SERVE AS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH. THE PROJECT WILL BE AIDED BY A RURAL ADVISORY COMMITTE (RAC) ESTABLISHED BY COLUMBIA CASCADE INCLUDING RURAL AREA SERVICE PROVIDERS, BUSINESSES AND EDUCATORS WHO HAVE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AND BACKGROUND ENCOURAGING OVERSAS TRADE.