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As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

(1)  “Board” means the Louisiana Board of International Commerce.

(2)  “Department” means the Department of Economic Development.

(3)  “Initiative” means the Louisiana International Commerce Initiative.

(4)  “Inland ports” means those ports, commonly known as shallow draft ports, engaged in waterborne commerce whose cargoes depend upon import or export through international ports for connection to world markets.

(5)  “International commerce” means a two-tiered, integrated economic sector concentrating upon the state’s unique position in world commerce.  “Tier one” shall be defined as business activity in the areas of waterborne or airborne commerce, manufacturing related to imported and exported products and services, other international activities, and corporate business activity resulting from the state’s engagement in international commerce.  “Tier two” shall be defined as inland transportation connectors, including water, highway, and rail, air transportation, airborne passenger travel, assembly and distribution, free trade zones, and other support business activities including but not limited to finance, insurance, suppliers of materials, legal, brokerage, freight forwarding, and other such services.

(6)  “International ports” means those ports, commonly known as deep draft ports, whose main function is waterborne commerce, both import and export, directly linked to world commerce.  These ports include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a)  Port of Greater Baton Rouge.

(b)  Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, Port of Lake Charles.

(c) Port of New Orleans.

(d)  Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District.

(e)  St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District.

(f)  Port of South Louisiana.

(7)  “Master plan” means the Master Plan of International Commerce.

(8)  “Office” means the office of international commerce within the Department of Economic Development.

(9)  “Project” means but is not limited to the construction of a physical asset and associated infrastructure to be used in the course of the business of international commerce, a business activity such as a marketing effort or the development of a business relationship, or an executable strategy such as joint ventures between governmental and nongovernmental organizations or businesses.  Projects may be undertaken by the office, another agency, or other entities as described in this Chapter.  For the purposes of this Chapter, “project” shall not be construed to include any of the following:

(a)  A project not consisting of the construction of a physical asset, including infrastructure, with a projected final cost of less than one million dollars.

(b)  A project consisting of construction of a physical asset, including infrastructure, with a projected final cost of less than five million dollars.

(c)  As it relates to ports, a project of any inland port or a project from any port or harbor district other than an international port.

(10)  “Secretary” means the secretary of the Department of Economic Development.

Acts 2012, No. 687, §2, eff. June 7, 2012.