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.