Speech
District Export Council Awards
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
State Capitol
5/16/2003
***Check Against Delivery***
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining me here today as we congratulate some incredible individuals for their work to expand exporting and export opportunities in Montana.
Economic development is the cornerstone of my administration, and exports are key to the success of Montana’s economy. This year’s award winners represent a true cross-section of Montana’s economy as a whole.
From forest products and sportsman-related businesses to top quality craftsman, these companies show that for Montana, our export opportunities are limitless. I am pleased to join you in congratulating them for their export achievements.
Exports allow Montanans the opportunity to sell to the ninety-six percent of the world’s consumers who live outside of the United States. Our top markets are Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
In 2001, the value of Montana exports totaled over six hundred five million dollars.
But exports don’t just bring in higher revenues. Exporting plants pay higher compensation than other plants to all groups of workers. Production workers, in particular, earn higher wages and benefits at exporting plants than production workers at non-exporting plants, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
And jobs related to US exports earn thirteen to eighteen percent more on average than other non-export jobs.
These are facts and figures about revenues and jobs created by exports, but there are companies behind those figures – and real Montanans behind the jobs created.
The companies and individuals we honor here today are ‘walking the talk’ – directly increasing exports for Montana, which results in new money circulating through our economy. This increases job opportunities for Montanans, and brings name awareness to our state in the international marketplace.
As we announce today’s award winners, I want you to know also that I greatly appreciate the commitment and dedication of those of you who serve on the District Export Council.
This council is unique in its makeup as it combines both private companies and government service providers working cooperatively to help current and potential Montana exporters. Whether you are in the public or private sector, I know that each of you work tirelessly in support of Montana companies interested in exporting their products.
In addition to sponsoring these awards, your export seminars are truly a benefit to Montana manufacturers and others seeking to market their products abroad. Thank you for all you do.
Before we move into the awards portion of this event, from the state government perspective, I’d like to share with you some of what our state agencies are doing to assist in the development of export opportunities for our state’s companies.
I’ll preface this by saying that the goal of our state government export programs are to help private companies expand their exports – not to replace private sector initiatives with government efforts. And I truly believe we’ve done an excellent job of meeting the needs of our state’s companies.
The Montana Department of Commerce maintains an Office of Trade and International Relations. The Department’s international trade officers are a resource for Montana companies in the area of technical export trade assistance.
Whether a company needs assistance with shipping and documentation, ensuring that the product reaches the customer or, most importantly, how to get paid, the Department of Commerce can help Montana businesses with the best way to pursue export opportunities.
As many of you know, the Department also maintains State of Montana offices in Taiwan at the Taipei World Trade Center and in Montana’s sister-state – Kumamoto, Japan.
Another component of the trade office is to work in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Business Development bureau, to market Montana’s premier agricultural products, both domestically and overseas.
As a result of that interagency cooperation, involving export trade promotions in the Pacific Rim, Montana is now viewed as a premier producer of organic and natural foods in Taiwan.
In addition, at the end of May, the two departments are holding a second hotel/restaurant food promotion in Japan. The goal of this promotion is to teach Japanese chefs how to incorporate Montana food products into their menus. This not only helps the chefs to provide a unique menu for their patrons, but ultimately will increase the sales of Montana food products in Japan.
Our administration feels strongly that the dollars we spend in marketing overseas truly pays off in a better economy for all Montanans, and we thank the District Export Council members for your work to that end as well.
But, most of all, I thank the companies here today for your work on the ground to improve the economy for all Montanans.
To each of today’s winners, my sincere congratulations for taking this step into the export market. You are truly an example for all of us.
I’d now like to turn the podium over to Randy Larimer (Larr uh mur) to announce this year’s export award winners.
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