Baldacci optimistic about French trade

AUGUSTA – Days ahead of a gubernatorial trade mission to Cuba, the Baldacci administration said a similar visit to France in October holds a promise of producing more than $5 million in first year sales by participating businesses.

The seven-day October trade mission was organized by the Maine International Trade Center and more than 30 participants from 18 industries met with French officials and business representatives, officials said.

Sessions were set up by the trade center, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service, the American Association of the Forum Francophone des Affaires and Foodexport USA.

On Tuesday, Gov. John Baldacci met with participants at the Blaine House as the administration touted the value of such tours, asserting that in the last four years gubernatorial trade missions yielded more than $17 million in projected sales for Maine businesses.

Looking back on the French visit, Baldacci expressed satisfaction.

“The value of Maine’s products and businesses in the international market is evident in the increase of exports and in the reception we received from the French community,” Baldacci said. “We will continue to strengthen our relationship with France through the growing number of Maine businesses participating in the global economy.”

“The combination of MITC and the U.S. Commerce and their resources are very effective,” said Evan Spoerl, national sales manager for WahlcoMetroflex, a Lewiston-based manufacturer of engineered products used in gas flow control and isolation.

“It was much more successful to meet with French representatives through the trade mission, rather than trying to do everything yourself from your office, or going to France on your own and trying to schedule appointments,” Spoerl said in the statement from Baldacci’s office.

The Maine group included representatives from Maine’s boat building, wood products, metal products, food and tourism industries.

Baldacci heads to Cuba this weekend with representatives of several Maine industries in hopes of completing agreements for the sale of $10 million worth of Maine-produced goods such as seed potatoes, lumber and fish products.

A preliminary export agreement was signed a year ago by Robert Spear, then Maine’s agriculture commissioner, and Pedro Alvarez Borrego, head of the Cuban import agency Alimport.