MITC PROGRAMS

MITC will host Biotechnology 
in the Global Marketplace


Delorme headquarters in Yarmouth

TRADE ALERTS

Travel and Trade Alert on UK 
recently received by our EU 
attache

Permanent Product Literature 
Center/Samples Display

TRADE EVENTS

World Affairs Council Breakfast 
with Senator George J. Mitchell

Trade Opportunities and 
Challenges in East Asia

FTZ Boot Camp

IASP Lisboa 2003



TRADE SHOWS

Heimtextil

Arab Health 2003

Ambiente 2003 USA Pavillion

Foodex Japan 2003

SIAL Montreal 2003

EGYTEX 2003

45th International Aviation 
and Aerospace Exhibition



TRADE MISSIONS

Health Care Technologies 
Matchmaker

Medical Device Trade Mission


PRESS RELEASES

U.S. & Australia Negotiate FTA

UPS Introduces Standard Service 
from the America’s



U.S. Economy Ranked First in Global 
Competitiveness

U.S. Trade Representative Sees Vital 
Opportunity in U.S.-Africa Trade

U.S. & India Pursue Increased Trade 
in High Technology

Swedish St Lucia Day at 
Penobscot School

New Rail Connection Network 
Plan for 2010

China To Establish One Hundred 
Logistics Centers In the Next Decade

U.S. & Singapore Agree on FTA

Zoellick Hoping for More Asian 
Free Trade Agreements

USEFUL WEBSITES

MITC Programs

MITC will host Biotechnology in the Global Marketplace: Warren Cook, President of JAX Research Systems, will speak on The Jackson Laboratory’s recent experience expanding their markets into Asia & Europe.  JAX Research Systems took the unusual step of partnering with their direct competitor for the purpose of expanding international sales.  Richard Seline, of New Economy Strategies, will outline international markets Maine companies should target for the future, and how collaboration between government, private corporations and academic institutions leads to success.  Join MITC as we learn how JAX Research Systems is expanding their international sales and distribution in Europe and Asia; how the University of Ulster is contributing to their own cluster development through business incubation and how the International Northeast Biotechnology Corridor can draw on its regional strengths to enhance cluster development in Maine. The program will run from 2-5 pm on Wednesday, December 4^th at DeLorme Mapping Co., Yarmouth, Maine. The program is free to the public thanks to Citizens Bank.  For more information, please contact Catherine Macri of the Maine International Trade Center at 541-7455, e-mail macri@mitc.com. See: www.mitc.com/PDF/BiotechBrochure.pdf 

Trade Alerts

Travel and Trade Alert on UK recently received by our EU attache.   A series of one-day strikes at seven UK airports is scheduled to begin December 15. Severe transport disruption is expected. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted (London); Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh (Scotland); and Southampton airports are all likely to be shut on the following strike days: December 15 and 23;January 2nd. 

Permanent Product Literature Center/Samples Display to be organized by the U.S. Commercial Service at the American Embassy in Israel - in cooperation with the Israeli Building Center (IBC) - is organizing a ‘’ at the Center for Advanced Materials and Information near Tel Aviv. The Israeli building materials market is a $2 billion sector heavily focussed on home renovation with approximately 130,000 remodeling projects each year. The average amount spent approaches $15,000.  For more information see www.building.org.il/english/index.html or contact Commercial Specialist - Alan Wielunski  e-mail: alan.wielunski@mail.doc.gov

Trade Events

World Affairs Council Breakfast with Senator George J. Mitchell: “Is Peaceful Coexistence Still Possible?” Wednesday December 4^th, 7-9 am, DoubleTree Hotel, 1230 Congress Street, Portland.  $15 students, $20 WAC members, $25 others.  Call Lorna at 780-5383 or e-mail lendreson@wacmaine.org for more information. 

Trade Opportunities and Challenges in East Asia: New Conditions and Logistics, a business breakfast meeting will be held Friday, December 6, 8-9:15 am at The Hope Club, 6 Benevolent Street, Providence, Rhode Island.  Speakers: Y. Shawn He Founding Organizer, iNetwork128, CEO, UniVerbal.  Lindsay Barich President/CEO, Unitrans Worldwide Inc.  RSVP by Tuesday, December 3. $20 payable at the door.  Contact Nancy Biersteker, Biersteker@aol.com for more infromation.  Co-Sponsored by: RI World Affairs Council and RI Export Assistance Center 

FTZ Boot Camp.  January 5-6, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. The National Association of Foreign -Trade Zones will fold the FTZ Boot Camp covering an overview of Foreign-Trade Zones, types of Foreign-Trade Zones, duty related benefits of using a Foreign Trade Zone, overview of the application process, U.S. Customs Service regulation of Foreign-Trade Zones, inventory control and recordkeeping system(s), and Foreign Trade Zone operations.  Cost: $275. For more information contact the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, Tel: 202-331-1950, or see their webpage: www.naftz.org

IASP Lisboa 2003  - XX IASP World Conference on Science and Technology Parks, Habitats of Excellence, Managing and Promoting Innovation June 1-4, 2003 in Lisboa, Portugal For more information go to www.iasplisboa2003.com

Trade Shows

Heimtextil, Jan 8-11, 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany is the world's largest and oldest textile and home furnishings trade fair in the world, sponsored by Messe Frankfurt.  For information on the US Pavilion contact Andrea Stahl, Tel:  49-69-956204-19 or E-mail: Andrea.Stahl@mail.doc.gov

Arab Health 2003, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 26-29, 2003 Arab Health is the premier medical device show in the Middle East.  The show features exhibitors from more than 75 countries, and it attracts 8,000-10,000 professional visitors from the Indian subcontinent, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf region, among others.  In 2002, the U.S. companies that attended the show reported that the business they got from the event was excellent.  Contact:  Lisa Huot, Tel 202-482-2796, or Email: Lisa_Huot@ita.doc.gov

Ambiente 2003 USA Pavillion, February 14-18, 2003.  Messe Frankfurt welcomes you to Ambiente, the world's largest consumer goods tradeshow, where over 5,000 leading manufacturers form 90 countries will showcase their latest and most innovative products in gifts and jewelry, furniture and accessories and kitchen and tableware on 3.6 million square feet of exhibition space.  Ambiente attracted 145,000 buyers from 100 different countries last year.  Contact:  Messe Frankfurt, Inc., Andreas Burkart, 1600 Parkwood Circle, Suite 515, Atlanta GA  30339 Tel:  770-984-8016, Fax: 770-984-8023, E-mail: info@usa.messefrankfurt.com or visit www.usa.messefrankfurt.com.

Foodex Japan 2003, to be held March 11-14, 2003 in Tokyo-Japan.  The U.S. Pavilion remains open with an extended registration deadline of November 29, 2002!  Best Products include: agricultural products, bread and cereals, confectionery, dairy products, delicatessen, dietetic products, eggs, and poultry, frozen food products, fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, ingredients, meat and meat products, oils, organic products, seafood, seasonings and condiments, and soup stock.  Contact Khaliaka Meardry at the USDA Trade Show Office.  E-mail: Khaliaka.Meardry@fas.usda.gov.

SIAL Montreal 2003, to be held April 2-4, 2003 in Montreal, Canada.  SIAL is a World-Class gathering of food and beverage professionals featuring over 850 exhibitors from 50 countries and 15,000 attendees.  Best  Prospects:  Fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, breakfast cereals, fish and seafood products, snack foods, bakery products, mixes and dough, processed beef and pork products, wine and beer, sauces and condiments, and bottled water and soft drinks.  Excellent opportunity exists for organic, Kosher and Asian Foods.  Contact:  Teresina Chin, USDA Washington, Tel: 202-720-9423. See: http://www.sialmontreal.com/en/welcome.ch2

EGYTEX 2003, The 4^th Apparel & Home Textile Manufacturing Trade Fair is being held April 26-28, 2003, at the Cairo Fair Grounds in Cairo, Egypt.  This is the only International Textile Exhibition held in Egypt dedicated to manufacturers of natural and man-made yarn, fabrics, apparel and home textiles. Email inquiries@egytex2003.com  or visit their website www.egytex2003.com  For more information, please call 202-265-9111 or email comegyus@aol.com.

45^th International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, June 15-22, 2003 Paris, France. The International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Paris Air Show) is the largest and most internationally attended aerospace event in the world.  The Paris Air Show is a showcase for aerospace equipment and technology.  It provides the perfect venue for civil and military aerospace suppliers and their customers to discuss, finalize, and announce their transactions.  The U.S. Commerce Department's Office of Aerospace will sponsor a Product Literature Center at the Paris Air Show.  Contact:  Tony Largay, Tel: 303-482-6236, E-mail: Anthony_Largay@ita.doc.gov

tRADE missions

Health Care Technologies Matchmaker: March 17-21, 2003, Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Oslo, Norway.  This Matchmaker will go to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.  It will involve health care and medical companies.  There will be a special focus on the tele-health sector, which is experiencing strong growth in these markets. Contact: Bill Kutson, Tel: 202-482-2839 or E-mail: William.Kutson@mail.doc.gov

Medical Device Trade Mission, to be held Mar. 23 - April 3, 2003 in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore.  This trade mission will have both policy and commercial components to assist U.S. Medical device firms seeking to enhance their presence in the region.  The mission will focus on the medical/dental device and clinical laboratory equipment sectors.  A limited number of firms from health care services as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries also could participate.  Companies are encouraged to participate in all four countries, but participants have the option of selecting stops from the itinerary.  Contact: Bill Kutson, Tel: 202-482-2839 or E-mail: William.Kutson@mail.doc.gov

Press Releases  

U.S. & Australia To Start Negotiations on Free Trade Agreement.  On November 13, United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick officially informed Congress of the Bush administration's intent to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia. "We believe the United States has much to gain in pursuing a negotiation with Australia. The increased access to Australia's market that an FTA would provide would further boost trade in both goods and services, enhancing employment opportunities in both countries," Zoellick said in his letter to Congressional leaders.  See: http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2002/11/02-110.htm 

UPS Introduces Standard Service from the America’s: On January 6, 2003, UPS will introduce Standard service from the Americas, providing general door-to-door, day-definite delivery to the 48 contiguous states from the following origins: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Honduras. Transit times will be 4-9 business days depending on destination.  Customers can receive specific transit times via the Transit Time generator on the UPS Web site, or by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS.  The service is primarily designed to meet the needs of high-volume shippers and with as an economical alternative to large consolidated clearance shipments to the 48 contiguous states.  For more information see the UPS Web site at www.ups.com or contact David Constant, dconstant@ups.com  

U.S. Economy Ranked First in Global Competitiveness.  According to the World Economic Forum's "Global Competitiveness Report 2002-2003" released on November 12, The United States' economy is the world's most competitive due to its "stellar performance" on technology-related factors and a business environment that is conducive to risk-taking and entrepreneurship.  See: http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme

U.S. Trade Representative Sees Vital Opportunity in U.S.-Africa Trade.  Speaking at a business roundtable on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) held at the State Department November 7, United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick said Africa's new leaders want to engage the United States and the world in expanded international trade and such a positive change presents the United States with an opportunity that is "vital to seize," What one finds more and more across Africa, Zoellick told his audience, is "a group of rising leaders who very much want to engage the international economy in a way to try to see how to benefit the people of Africa and to make the people of Africa significant players in the international economy." See: http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov/cgi-bin/doit.cgi?204:52:797095173:443

U.S. & India Pursue Increased Trade in High Technology. On November 12-13, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster led a senior U.S. government delegation to India for talks on promoting bilateral trade in high technology. During the talks, the two governments agreed to set up an India-U.S. High Technology Cooperation Group and reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing proliferation of strategic goods and technology. See: http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov/cgi-bin/doit.cgi?204:52:797095173:445 

Swedish St Lucia Day at Penobscot School: Saturday, December 7 at 5:00 pm. Join the Penobscot School¹s Swedish class in a traditional Christmas Smörgåsbord and celebration of St. Lucia. In addition to the Swedish celebration, the School will also hold a German Adventskaffe on December 1 at 4:00, and a French Souper Noël on December 20 at 6:00 pm. The public is cordially invited to all of these seasonal celebrations. For more information, contact Penobscot School at 594-1084, or visit the School at 28 Gay Street in Rockland.

New Rail Connection Network Plan for 2010: Guangzhou, China: Municipal government here recently announced its plan to build a 500 km-long rail connection network, consisting of 14 to 15 metro lines, a 67 km-long suburban train line with 13 major destinations in urban areas, 21 crossing stations, and 58 passenger stations.  Total investment in the project is estimated at RMB 200 billion (US $2.42 billion), of which 60 percent will come from funds from the government and land sales, and 40 percent from bank loans. If all lines are built as metro lines, the cost will total RMB 400 million (US $48.4 million) per kilometer for engineering, construction and system equipment. The cost may be lower if some lines are built as ground rail lines. Sources: New Express, Guangzhou Daily, 11/07/2002 - Translated by US Commercial Service, Guangzhou)

China To Establish One Hundred Logistics Centers In the Next Decade.  Sources from the China International Logistics & Transportation Exposition Say in the next ten years, one hundred logistics centers will be built nationwide with a handling and management center located in Beijing to centralize all relevant requests.  It is estimated that third party logistics (TPL) will increase dramatically in the coming years, rising from RMB four billion to RMB ten billion in the near future. (Source: Beijing Business Today, 11/12/2002 - Translated by Shen Yan, USCS.)

U.S. and Singapore Agree "in Substance" on Free Trade Agreement.  According to a November 19 fact sheet released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the United States and Singapore have "reached agreement in substance" on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Once the FTA goes into effect, the United States will lower any tariffs on Singapore goods to zero. Under the agreement, Singapore commits to enacting a competition law and to ensuring that its government enterprises "will act as commercial entities, will not discriminate against U.S. goods and services, and will not engage in anti-competitive behavior." See: http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov/cgi-bin/doit.cgi?204:52:797095173:445

Zoellick Hoping for More Asian Free Trade Agreements.  U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick told reporters at a roundtable discussion November 19 in Manila that the United States was looking to build upon present Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand as foundations for comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreements with those countries. See: http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2002/11/2002-11-20-Statement-philippines.PDF

USEFUL WEBSITES
 
MERX:  MERX is a fee-based resource for companies interested in bidding on Canadian government procurement projects. (MITC has produced a short "how-to" for interested companies. Contact us for a copy.) See: http://www.merx.bmo.com


MITC Trade Bulletin is published biweekly by the Maine International Trade Center as a members only benefit.  For information about membership or to be placed on our MITC Trade Bulletin mailing list, please contact our office.

Portland: Phone (207) 541-7400, Facsimile (207) 541-7420
Bangor: Phone (207) 990-3161 Facsimile (207) 942-3548
Lewiston: Phone (207) 753-0574 Facsimile (207) 782-6905
Website: http://www.mitc.com/Trade_Bulletin/November18.htm