BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven and U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Deputy Director Tom Moore were in Fargo today to make two announcements:

• First, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service plans to place an international trade specialist in North Dakota. This is the first step toward establishing a North Dakota U.S. Export Assistance Center, which will complement statewide efforts to aid export growth and development.
• Second, the Governor and Deputy Director presented an Export Achievement Award to Fargo-based Dakota Air Parts International, Inc.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a U.S. Department of Commerce agency that helps small and medium-sized U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. Currently, the agency's worldwide network includes 108 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen North Dakota exporters make significant inroads into new foreign markets,” Hoeven said. “Initial sales from two recent trade missions alone amounted to more than $14 million, and research compiled by the North Dakota Trade Office confirms that we’ve seen substantial growth for our economy because of expanded exports out of North Dakota. The North Dakota Trade Office has effectively made the case to U.S. Commercial Service that there is potential for significant new growth, leading the Commerce Department to invest resources in our state.”

According to Moore, North Dakota’s exports increased 22 percent since 1999, representing the 15th largest percentage gain among the 50 states.

“North Dakota is a perfect fit for the U.S. Commercial Service’s Rural Export Initiative designed to bring more rural businesses into the mainstream of exporting and trade by making it easier to access our export programs and services,” he said. “The commercial service is looking to work with the state to provide greater fuel to that growth.”
Mary Joyce, director of the Chicago U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC), is in the state to help present the award and visit with exporters.

“The increased U.S. Commercial Service presence working in partnership with the North Dakota Trade Office will help more companies in communities from Rolla to Dickinson and Williston to Wahpeton involved in exporting their goods and services abroad,” said Joyce.

To illustrate their point, Moore and Hoeven presented an Export Achievement Award to Fargo-based Dakota Air Parts International, Inc. With assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service, Dakota Air Parts recently inked a $1.3 million contract with Chile for whole helicopters and spare parts.

“The assistance we received from the U.S. Commercial Service saved us time and untold expense,” said Barbara Hemelstrand, president of Dakota Air Parts. “I know other North Dakota exporters have similar opportunities, yet need expertise before they actually ship products. Easier access to the U.S. Commercial Service and establishing the North Dakota Trade Office will definitely be a benefit to several North Dakota businesses.”

Arrow-Tech, Inc., based out of Rolla, received an Export Achievement Award in September for making successful export sales into Taiwan, which was a new market for them. The sales were a result of the collaborative effort between Arrow-Tech, the North Dakota Trade Office and the U.S. Commercial Service.

“Through recent trade missions to Taiwan, Japan and China, we have proven North Dakota products and companies are competitive in overseas markets and that export markets can be extremely lucrative for our companies,” Hoeven said. “With the team we are assembling in the state, we have the opportunity, through exporting, to grow our economy and create good jobs for the people of North Dakota.”

The North Dakota Trade Office is a partnership between the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the North Dakota District Export Council, private companies and export service providers who seek to expand export opportunities in international markets. In addition, the North Dakota Trade Office intends to provide exporter research, education and advocacy, plus administer four trade missions each year. The North Dakota Trade Office is in the process of developing a public-private nonprofit organization funded with private funds and matching funds from the state as proposed in Gov. Hoeven’s 2005 legislative budget.

For more information about the North Dakota Trade Office, contact Susan Geib at (701) 541-0735 or susanne@exportnd.com or Cherie Harms at cherie@exportnd.com or (701) 319-2275. For more information about the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit www.export.gov or call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Minnesota at (612) 348-1638.