More than 60 leading entrepreneurs, politicians and academic experts are to gather this afternoon in Baltimore to start "Black Entrepreneurship in America," a three-day conference that seeks to promote black business.

Registration starts today at 3 p.m. and is followed by EXPO '94, a trade fair featuring businesses seeking minority vendors. During the evening, executives from host company Dow Jones & Co. will greet participants.

Tomorrow, politicians such as Gov. William Donald Schaefer and Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke will speak, followed by a round-table discussion on problems and opportunities facing black-owned businesses.

Some of the speakers will be U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; Raymond Haysbert Sr., chairman of the Parks Sausage Co.; and James E. Preston, chairman of Avon Products Inc.

Later tomorrow, concurrent sessions will explore business opportunities in South Africa, health care reform, the "information superhighway" and skills needed to build business relationships. During the evening, Dow Jones will honor a group of black business leaders with its Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards.

On Friday, a breakfast is to focus on congressional support for black business development, followed by a round-table discussion on finance and investment. During the afternoon, a panel will analyze some of Maryland's programs to promote minority businesses.

The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. Registration costs $450. Profits will be donated to historically black colleges and universities to support their entrepreneurial studies.