Hawai'i business owners who want to sell their goods and services in foreign markets are encouraged to attend an Exporting Boot Camp tomorrow at Kapi'olani Community College.

"We're hoping that they leave at the end of the day with a running start on developing an export strategy and an export plan for their company," said Steve Craven, one of the workshop organizers. Craven is president of Kekepana International Services, a marketing consulting firm, and a member of the workshop's sponsoring Hawaii Pacific Export Council.

Craven said boot camp participants will be encouraged to come up with a draft export plan and will be able to meet with a council member in a few weeks to review the plan.

"There's an awful lot of confusion as to where to start," he said. "We're going to try to get over that hump by working with companies to help them determine: Is what they're selling exportable? Is there a market out there? And to begin narrowing down what market might be appropriate for them."

The boot camp also is intended to dispel myths and misconceptions about exporting. Craven said many business owners, for example, believe that bribery is a way of life when doing business in Southeast Asia, which he said is not only not true but an illegal practice.

"Many companies have the perception that quotas or customs duties required in foreign markets will stop them. That's not necessarily so. Some places have high quotas or duties and some places have low quotas or duties. We'll help them figure that out," he said.

In 2005, the value of goods exported from Hawai'i to foreign countries was $3.7 billion, up 32 percent from 2004, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The value of exports for the first seven months of this year was $2.9 billion, a 50 percent increase over the same period in 2005, according to DBEDT.

Craven said he hopes that some of the participants in tomorrow's workshop will be able to share in the growing exporting business.

"It does take a certain amount of commitment on the part of a company. They do have to put resources into it. It doesn't come for free," he said. "On the other hand, exporting isn't as daunting as many small companies think. Just because an overseas market is different doesn't necessarily mean it's difficult."

In addition to Craven, the boot camp will be led by Chuck Steilen, marketing and exporting professor at Hawai'i Pacific University, Bank of Hawaii economist Paul Brewbaker, and Peter Kay, who exports computer software. Business owners who have been successful in exporting also will share their experiences.

The deadline to register for the workshop has passed, but walk-ins will be accepted. The boot camp will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at KCC.

The fee is $75 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For information, call 737-1904.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.