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that information back to our industry to devise a strategy for 

 promotion. 



FAS also helps us to monitor and evaluate our gains. We are 

 working closely with the analysis staff in the Forest Products 

 Division to better track value-added exports and exports of wood 

 products by species. This analysis has helped focus the export 

 picture more clearly on value-added gains, the most rapidly 

 growing export sector in the wood products industry. 



The management methodology adopted by FAS is a sophisticated 

 tool for ensuring that U.S. government funds are spent wisely, 

 and is constantly updated to incorporate congressional and GAO 

 recommendations and requests, as evidenced by: 1) FAS conducts 

 careful analysis of market opportunities and incorporates them 

 into long-term agricultural strategies for market promotion 

 activities, and 2) FAS requires both activity plan and full 

 program evaluations to identify successes, failures, and areas of 

 improvement for U.S. industry to do a better job of marketing its 

 products overseas. 



These changes and others, along with greatly enhanced FAS 

 oversight, have led FAS to become more involved in their review 

 of funding applications and annual marketing plans to ensure 

 value for money. They should be commended for their work in 



