Legislature(1999 - 2000)
01/25/2000 05:10 PM House WTR
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WORLD TRADE
AND STATE/FEDERAL RELATIONS
January 25, 2000
5:10 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Briefing by Department of Community and Economic Development,
Division of Trade and Development
TAPE(S)
00-1, SIDES A and B
CALL TO ORDER
REPRESENTATIVE RAMONA BARNES, Chair, convened the House Committee
on World Trade and State/Federal Relations meeting at 5:10 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present at the call to order were
Representatives Barnes, Cowdery, Masek, Phillips, Green,
Berkowitz and Joule.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
GREG WOLF, Director of the Division of Trade and Development
(DTD), Department of Community and Economic Development,
presented an overview of the past several months and of DTD's
expectations for the coming year. The presentation included a
report on the status and prospects for Alaska's trade with other
countries.
RUDY TSUKADA, Research Section Chief, Division of Trade and
Development, Department of Community and Economic Development,
assisted with the presentation.
MR. WOLF reported that the DTD's strategy of holding steady
appears to be paying off as the Asian economic crisis turns
around. He forecast that when all figures are tallied, Alaskan
exports will total $2.5 billion for 1999. Alaska ranked first in
the nation in growth of exporting companies during 1999. Alaska
is one of the most trade-oriented states and is generally viewed
as a leader, especially in dealing with Asian countries. The
state must continue to play an active role with exporting
companies. Seafood is Alaska's largest category of export at 44
percent.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN offered comments about his participation
with DTD at a Japan Seafood Expo in 1999. He said a written
report will be included in the report to the Speaker from the
House Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations.
It was pointed out that although statistics on Alaska's trade
with Russia suggest little progress, several Alaska companies are
doing considerable business in Russia, especially in the Russian
Far East. However, much of that business is being done under
service contracts, which typically are not included in trade
statistics.
DTD is eager to establish an Alaskan trade presence in the
Peoples Republic of China.
DTD will be restructured in 2001 and will thereafter be known as
the Division of Trade and Market Development.
CHAIR BARNES announced that the Northern Forum had notified her
office that the Administration is not sending a representative to
the upcoming Northern Forum meeting in Sweden. Because Alaska is
considered an important part of the Northern Forum, she thought
it could prove embarrassing for the state not to be represented.
She asked if a committee member would be available to attend.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
The House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal
Relations meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
NOTE:
The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken. A
copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by contacting
the House Records Office at 129 6th Street, Suite 229, Juneau,
Alaska 99801-2197, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the
second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature this
information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative
Reference Library at 129 6th Street, Suite 102, Juneau, Alaska,
(907) 465-3808.
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