World Trade Center Alaska invites you to attend our Luncheon
with Karen
Matthias
Consul
Canadian Consulate in Anchorage
Topic
"Canada's Economic Impact on Alaska"
When: Wednesday,
October 12, 2005 Where:
Wells Fargo Bank (Northern Light and
"C" Street), Fifth Floor Time: 12 noon (doors open 11:45 am)
Fee: $20- WTCAK member
$25 - non-member
For more information
contact
WTCAK at 278-7233 or e-mail: info@wtcak.org
Premium Level Members
CEO Club:
FedEx
Horizon Lines of Alaska L.L.C.
Wells Fargo Bank Alaska
Lynden International
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Russia Jet Direct
South Central Timber Development
Corporate:
3M Alaska
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Business Publishing Co.
Alaska Interstate Construction L.L.C.
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
BP
ConocoPhillips Alaska
International Telecom
UBS Financial Services
United Parcel Service
Contact Information
431 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 108, Anchorage, Ak 99501
Phone: (907) 278-7233,
Fax: (907) 278-2982,
Email: info@wtcak.orgStaff
Greg Wolf
Executive Director
Alex Salov
Office Manager
Peter Ratner Program Coordinator
Message from the Executive Director
Dear Member:
September was a busy month for the Center. The 1st Alaska-China Business
Conference at the beginning of the month kicked off our “China
Calling” program, an ongoing series of events and activities focused on
expanding trade opportunities between Alaska and China. The conference featured a host of
experienced ‘China hands’ who offered their insights and ideas on how to
identify and pursue business opportunities in the world’s fastest growing major
market.
Two weeks later, WTCAK led a group of business and government officials on a Trade
Mission to China with stops in Shanghai and Beijing. The mission was timed to
coincide with the 36th Annual General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association, the
organization to which WTCAK and some 300 other WTCs are members. This year, our colleagues
at WTC Shanghai hosted the General Assembly. More than 400 delegates from around the world
attended the event. The presentations during the General Assembly were focused on
opportunities for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to participate in China’s
growing economy.
Trade mission members participated in the General Assembly and met
with senior American and Chinese government officials for briefings and to discuss
Alaska’s export resources. Working in cooperation with the Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute’s China representative, the trade mission delegation also hosted an
“Alaska Night” in Shanghai featuring a variety of Alaskan seafood. Nearly 100
persons attended the event, including a number of local seafood buyers.
A special report on the China conference and trade mission will be available in a few
weeks and can be accessed at our web site (www.wtcak.org).
Also in September, Jim Kulas, Environmental Superintendent for Teck-Cominco Alaska,
provided an update on the Red Dog Mine at our monthly luncheon meeting. Red Dog is the
world largest zinc concentrate mine and Teck-Cominco is a major exporter of zinc and lead
from Alaska.
Teck-Cominco’s investment at Red Dog is an excellent example of Canada’s
significant participation in Alaska’s economy. Canadian trade and investment
will be the topic of our monthly luncheon later this week, on 12 October,
at the Wells Fargo Bank Building. Karen Matthias, Canada’s Consul here in Anchorage,
will present the findings of a just completed study of Canada’s economic impact on
Alaska. Canada is Alaska’s third largest trading partner and for many years has been
a major investor in the state’s mining industry and other sectors. Don’t miss
this important luncheon meeting.
Until Next Week,
Greg Wolf
Executive Director
Many thanks to new or renewing members. It is
the support of our membersthat enables WTCAK to provide the
information and services that help make trade happen
Foss Maritime
Company
Udelhoven Oilfield System Services, Inc.
Alaska Supply Chain Integrators
International Data Systems, Inc.
Circumpolar Expeditions
Arctic Foundations, Inc.
Northrim Bank
Canadian Consulate in Anchorage
Mat-Su Borough
Patton Boggs LLP
Ms. Chong Sanders
Hotel Captain Cook
Consulate-General of Japan
Fairweather, Inc.
Alaska Airlines
DRven Corporation
Royal Norwegian Consulate
KPMG LLP
Consul of Seychelles
VECO Corporation
International Business for Women
Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc.
United Parcel Service
Pacific Rim Leadership
Alaska State Legislature
The Strategy.Biz, Inc.
American Marine Corporation
Canada Snapshot
The Government of Canada opened a new
consulate in Alaska, headed by Consul Karen Matthias, in September 2004. The establishment
of the office and Consul Mathias’ immediate active involvement in Alaska is clear
recognition of the historically strong ties between Alaska and Canada as well as the
increasing importance of trade and cooperation between the two. The Anchorage office is
one of several new consulates the Government of Canada recently opened as a result of its
national effort to enhance representation in the United States. Alaska has the longest
border with Canada, 1538 miles, of any state.
A new economic impact study commissioned by
the Consulate of Canada found that Canada's economic impact on Alaska is far reaching,
touching industries as diverse as mining, retail, fish processing, and tourism. In 2004,
Canadian companies in Alaska annually employed some 2,600 Alaskans. The direct and
indirect total impact tied to Canadian economic activity in this state amounted to $330
million last year.
Between 1981 and 2004, Canadian companies
invested $2.3 billion in mining and exploration in the Alaska. Annually, about 100,000
Canadians visit Alaska, spending $81 million in state. At the WTCAK
Lincheon on October 12 Consul Matthias' presentation will highlight several success
stories of this dynamic, but sometimes overlooked, trade relationship.
