Sen. Baucus hosting trade tour in state – officials will visit Great Falls, Helena and Bozeman in an effort to build the export base for Montana companies.

Sen. Max Baucus will get a chance to play tour guide this week, as a group of nine foreign ambassadors and other officials will visit Great Falls, Helena and Bozeman in an effort to build the export base for Montana companies.

By JOHN HARRINGTON – IR Staff Writer

http://helenair.com/articles/2004/08/04/montana/a01080404_05.txt

Ambassadors to the U.S. from Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam will join trade officials from Japan, Thailand, New Zealand and Taiwan on the tour, which kicks off with a dinner at the Charlie Russell Museum in Great Falls tonight.

Baucus spokesman Barrett Kaiser said the goal is to lay a foundation for future business relationships between Montana firms and foreign markets.

"The first step is face-to-face contact, and showing these representatives from other counties that Montana has the highest quality products in the world," Kaiser said. "Future deals could be put together as a result of this trip."

The group will dine at the Winterburn Ranch east of Helena Thursday, then spend much of Friday in the Queen City. The agenda here includes a tour of Summit Aeronautics and a meeting and lunch with Gov. Judy Martz and other state officials to discuss expanding business opportunities for Montana firms. The group leaves for Bozeman Friday afternoon.

Great Falls activities include a tour of the FedEx facility and meeting with airport and customs officials to discuss details of importing to and exporting from Montana. The group will also tour the Dana Ranch outside Great Falls.

Bozeman’s agenda features dinner with Montana State University President Geoff Gamble, a tour of Tech Ranch and some time at the weekend’s Sweet Pea Festival.

Kaiser said the trip is being funded by a combination of public and private funds, and that the ambassadors are picking up their own hotel costs.

Kaiser pointed to Singapore — a nation of some 3 million people living in an area smaller than the Helena Valley — as a country that doesn’t produce a lot of agricultural products and would be a perfect target for Montana’s meats and grains.

"More and more, international trade and reaching into foreign markets is becoming a key component to Montana’s economic success," he said. "Asia is the market of the future, and Max believes Montana can meet their demand."

He added that a Chinese delegation is expected to visit Montana in October at Baucus’ request.

John Harrington can be reached at 447-4080 or [email protected].