Governor s Agriculture and Tourism Mission Delivers Positive Message 

 ALout Montana to Dvisiness Partners in tlie Paciiic Rim 



Montana Governor Judy Martz led an agriculture and tourism delegation on a nine day mission to ]apan and Taiwan. 

 The delegation had 24 meetings with importers, companies, commodity groups, government officials, educational 

 institutions and business organizations over the course of the mission. 



Highlights of die business-packed trip started off in Seatde, Washington, on April 1 5, 2()U4, with meetings widi Columbia 

 Grain International where president Tom Hammond emphasized the demand for Montana origin wheat by their overseas 

 customers. Later in the day the group was hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Seatde, where 

 Director General |ack C.K. Chiang and his staff reiterated their commitment to working with Montana and promoting 

 agricultural and business trade, tourism and culmral relationships. The next morning, pnor to departure for Taipei, Taiwan, 

 Governor Martz and several delegates met with Japan Consul General Tadahiro Abe and discussed the Japan market and 

 relations with the U.S. 



In Taipei, Taiwan, delegates met with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the American Institute in Taiwan 

 (AIT), the Montana Asia-Pacific Trade Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), China Grain and Product 

 Research & Development Institute, U.S. Wheat Associates and the Taiwan Millers Association. The high point of the 

 day was an hour-long session between Governor Judy Martz and the newiy re-elected Taiwanese President Chen. During 

 the conversation, Governor Martz emphasized the need to open Taiwan's market to US beef and Montana's commitment 

 to producing agricultural products that the Taiwan market wants: beef, wheat for milling, organic products and 

 ingredients for processing. 



The demand for Montana wheat in Taiwan was evident from meetings at the China Grain and Product Research & 

 Development Institute, U.S. Wheat and the Taiwan Millers Association. Mr. Ching-Ho Huang, Secretary General of the 

 Taiwan Flour Mills Association commented that 90 percent of the wheat being imported into Taiwan comes from the 

 United States, of that quantity, 90 percent comes from Montana. He also noted that Taiwan millers received their first 

 shipment of hard white winter wheat recently and suggested Montana growers consider producing hard white winter 

 wheat. 



Tokyo was the next stop on the agenda and the first meeting was with the Starzen Co. Ltd, Japan's largest meat 

 merchandiser handling both imported and domestic meat supplies, and former owner of the Selkirk Ranch in Dillon. 

 Starzen is a major importer of U.S. beef and president Mr. LIzurahashi stated he was hopeful that the market would 

 reopen soon, and when it does, Starzen plans to resume importing U.S. beef 



In Osaka, agriculture delegates met with the Agricultural Trade Office for a briefing on trade opportunities in 

 western japan. Osaka ATO Director Emiko Purdy informed the delegation that they are organizing a reverse media 

 mission to the States, now planned to include Montana, in late August, 2004, as part of a program to improve the 

 Japanese public's opinion and knowledge of food safety in the United States and U.S. food production. A meeting 

 followed with Japanese meat buyers and importers and the opportunity to put forward Montana's commitment to seeing 

 the resumption of U.S. beef exports to Japan. 



The last stop of the day in Osaka, also organized by ATO Osaka, was a tour for the delegation of a major regional 

 grocery chain to accenmate the importance of packaging and product qualit}' to the Japanese consumer. 

 The final day of meetings took the delegation to the ATO Tokyo office for a briefing on the grain purchasing system in 

 Japan by US Grains Council japan Director Carey Sifferath and LIS. Wheat Associates Director Takeo Suzuki. 



Agriculture delegates were able to meet with Nisshin Flour Milling, the largest miller in Japan, the first meeting 

 between a Montana delegation and the Japanese milling company. 



Governor Martz and the agriculture delegates were also able to visit Nippon Flour Mills Company Ltd, parent 

 company to Great Falls-based Pasta Montana. Key company executives including CEO Hiroslii Sawada and Chief 

 Executive Officer of Pasta Montana Katsutaro Nishihara were also in attendance. Mr. Sawada commented that this was 

 a 'historic day' as it was the first time a Governor visited the company. Governor Martz and Mr. Sawada discussed 

 Montana's long-standing relationship with Nippon and Pasta Montana's positive impact on Montana's economy and 

 business community. 



inancial Deadlines 



July ,5l GIA Investment App. Deadline* MT Dept. Agriculture 406-444-2402 \'alue-added financial assistance. 



July 31 Trade Show Assistance App. Deadline* MT Dept. Agriculture 406-444-2402 Financial assistance to attend shows. 



*PIease contact the Montana Department of Agriculture for more information. 





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