Dear Members:

First, I want to thank you for your membership in WTCAK. Your membership is very important to us and we work hard each day to earn your ongoing involvement and support. Your membership dues enable us to provide your company with international business information and services that would otherwise be too time consuming or costly to develop without the global resources that WTCAK and its partners here at home and abroad can access on your behalf. We look forward to working with you to identify and pursue new opportunities in the weeks and months ahead.

Congratulations are in order for three WTCAK members that were recognized recently for their success in overseas markets and for their contribution to Alaska’s international. trade community. Many of you attended the 19th Annual Export Alaska Banquet last month. If you missed it, you missed the big night of the year that celebrates the successes of Alaska’s exporters. This year more than 200 business and government leaders attended the event. At the banquet, two member companies received the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award: VECO Corporation and Udelhoven Oilfield System Services.

Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman presents the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award to Roger Chan, executive vice president of VECO Corporation		Leman presents Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award to Jim Gilbert, president of Udelhoven Oilfield System Services

In addition, this year WTCAK presented the Ambassador Circle Award to Joe Henri, the president of South Central Timber Development Company. This award recognizes the contribution of an individual to helping build a stronger international trade community in Alaska. Henri is a long time board member of WTCAK and currently serves as the chair of the Center’s board of directors. Also, Henri is an active member of the Export Council of Alaska and serves as the group’s treasurer. We also want to express our sincere thanks to State Senator John Cowdery who presented the award to Henri.

State Senator John Cowdery presented WTCAK’s Ambassador Circle Award to Joe Henri, president of South Central Timber Development Company		Joe Henri makes comments after receiving the Ambassador Circle Award for his individual contributions to building a strong international trade community in Alaska

Cowdery is a strong supporter of Alaska’s international trade and WTCAK.

Congratulations to VECO, Udelhoven and Henri! We are proud, indeed, to have you as members of our Trade Center.

I hope you consider joining our trade mission to India and Singapore this coming September (23 September-5 October 2006). The mission is part of our “New Markets-New Customers” program designed to assist Alaska companies to explore and pursue business opportunities in emerging markets for Alaskan exports. Singapore is already a top-15 trade partner of Alaska while India holds enormous potential to become a major partner as its economy continues to expand at a rapid pace. We want to position our companies to profit from the growth of these two markets and this trade mission is an important step in that direction. To find out more about the mission, visit our website at www.wtcak.org or call me at 278-7233 to discuss the mission in more detail.

Finally, mark your calendar and plan to attend our luncheon meeting on 12 July 2006. State of Alaska economist Mark Edwards will provide an overview and timely mid –year update on Alaska’s economy.

At the Center, we have a busy year ahead. In addition to our mission to India and Singapore, we will also be taking a business mission to the Russian Far East. I hope you will keep your membership current and stay as active and involved as you can. Our goal is to help you generate more business for your company. Through our activities and programs, we present a wide range of international opportunities and assist you to pursue them. I look forward to discussing your specific needs.

Best Regards,

Greg Wolf

Executive Director

 

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"Serving Alaska's Business Community Since 1987"