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Montana World Trade Center Plans Trade Mission to Australia, New Zealand – Export-ready consumer-good companies and others are being sought to participate.

The Montana World Trade Center at The University of Montana http://www.mwtc.org is organizing a trade mission to Australia and New Zealand March 26-April 4, 2004.

Export-ready consumer-good companies and others are being sought to participate. Interested companies should call Fraser McLeay, MWTC senior manager, at (406) 243-6982 by Jan. 23, 2004.

http://www.umt.edu/urelations/releases/2003/MWTCaust.htm

“This trade mission will have the full support of the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service,” said Mark Peters of the Montana Export Assistance Center. “We will work closely with our colleagues in country to set up strategic meetings with potential partners for each of the participating companies as the mission travels throughout both New Zealand and Australia.”

Australia and New Zealand have been targeted by the MWTC in large part because of the similarities these countries have with Montana. Like Montana, McLeay said, both are transitioning from resource-based economies to processing, manufacturing and information economies. Similarities in terms of language, culture, legal system and interests also help make them ideal target countries for Montana exports.

“We also took into consideration that Australia is expected to sign a free trade agreement with the United States early in 2004,” McLeay said, “which would further eliminate barriers to trade. The exchange rate between the United States and New Zealand also is extremely favorable for the U.S. right now. It has dropped more than 33 percent in the last 18 months.”

MWTC will recruit up to 10 companies to participate in the Australia-New Zealand mission. The companies can be from a wide range of industries, but they need to be export-ready.

McLeay, a New Zealand native who will arrange many logistics for the mission, said the timing is right for Montana companies to initiate and further explore business opportunities Down Under.

The trade mission will include several UM employees who will explore academic and knowledge transfer between the Montana University System and its counterparts in Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, the Missoula Cultural Council has been invited to take part in the mission to foster cultural exchanges and explore interest among New Zealanders and Australians in Montana’s American Indian culture. MCC has arranged a 14-day itinerary to depart Missoula and Los Angeles on Friday, March 26, that will include a six-day stay in Palmerston North, New Zealand — one of Missoula’s sister cities. Information about that trip is available at (406) 721-9620 or .

“We strongly believe that the arts help promote tourism and trade,” said MWTC’s Geoff Sutton. “Seeing a beautiful landscape painting of Montana or watching one of our performing artists sing, act or dance helps generate a more intense interest in our state, land and people. This in turn helps foster a better relationship for business trade.”

Sutton is coordinating the cultural aspects of the mission. He will put together an exhibit by Montana artists in Palmerston North on March 30. The U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, Charles Swindells, is expected to attend the opening.

The trade mission will build on the success of two recent MWTC endeavors, which resulted in more than $5 million in sales so far. Last July MWTC led a trade mission to Ireland . MWTC also recently represented several Montana firms at the world’s largest mining trade show in Australia .

MeLeay said, “We are pleased that several of the companies that participated in these initiatives already have expressed interest in joining the trade mission to Australia and New Zealand.”

MWTC is a nonprofit organization that helps Montana businesses establish and strengthen their international commercial capabilities. For more information, visit http://www.mwtc.org or call (406) 243-6982.

Contact: Fraser McLeay, MWTC, (406) 243-6982.

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