§18B-11-3. Institute for international trade development; creation and purpose.

There is hereby created as an independent entity the institute for international trade development, to be located and operated at Marshall University. The institute is established to facilitate faculty involvement in the formation and continuation of international market entry and development strategy, to provide assistance to state businesses in exporting and attracting foreign investment, and to engage in other activities designed to promote, develop and stimulate export expansion and foreign direct investment. The institute shall be under the control and supervision of a director, who shall be appointed from among the faculty by the president of Marshall University. The institute shall engage faculty from institutions of higher education throughout the state and shall cooperatively develop an export program with the other such institutions. The terms of such participation may be by contract, loan, part-time basis, or other such arrangement. The institute shall develop with the board of trustees and the Governor a program of student internships in international business to place qualified students for academic credit with businesses in West Virginia to help develop export awareness and potential. The institute shall further provide research and analysis on matters of international trade upon request of the executive or the Legislature; initiate partnership grants, and proposals in the area of international trade in accordance with the provisions of article two-a, chapter five-b of this code; and apply for and obtain grants or funds from all available sources, private and public.