State mission to Europe to bolster trade Baldacci looks to Italy, Germany as export points

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci will lead an international trade mission, the second of his administration, in mid-November to Germany and Italy.

The governor, some state officials and business leaders will begin their mission in Dusseldorf, a center of the German medical products and biotech industries, and will proceed to Milan, a fashion and industrial hub of the Italian economy.

The mission is scheduled for Nov. 13-20. Participants will include 15 to 20 Baldacci administration officials, and 15 to 20 representatives of Maine businesses, Carolina Quiroz-Boutaugh of the Maine International Trade Center said Friday.

The mission is being organized by the trade center, a public-private partnership that promotes international trade. Businesses will pay expenses for their representatives and state funds will cover those of the administration officials, Quiroz-Boutaugh said.

Richard Coyle, president of the trade group, said matchmaking meetings between Maine companies’ representatives and their counterparts will be held throughout the two countries.

Germany and Italy are growing markets for Maine, which exported a record $2.2 billion worth of goods last year. The strong euro and weak U.S. dollar are particular advantages now for exporters trying to break into or expand in Europe, an announcement of the trade mission from Baldacci’s office said.

On Friday, the dollar fell against the euro and other major currencies in European trading. The euro was quoted at $1.2259 in late European trading, up from $1.2041 late Thursday.

Germany has been a growing market for American seafood and telecommunications industries. Italy last year became one of the top ten export destinations for Maine products, Coyle said.

“We have seen trade growth with Italy in Maine’s paper and pulp, seafood and electric machinery industry sectors in particular,” Coyle added.

Last fall, Baldacci led a weeklong trade mission to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where the Maine delegation pitched lobster, scallops, shrimp, blueberries, apples and other products.