Harrisburg, PA, March 26, 2007--Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff will lead a delegation of Pennsylvania hardwood companies on a trade mission trip to China to promote the state's $16 billion hardwood industry. The group left today and will return March 28.
The mission aims to encourage Chinese manufacturers to buy more Pennsylvania hardwood lumber. The last hardwoods trade mission trip to China was in 2004 and produced more than $3.6 million in new sales for Pennsylvania hardwoods companies.
"Building relationships with international markets contributes to the economic development of our state, and is evident in the success of past trade missions," said Wolff. "This trip is a good opportunity to further promote our hardwoods industry, which is the largest in the U.S., and attract new investments in Pennsylvania agriculture."
Six Pennsylvania companies are joining Wolff in a series of trade shows, including one hosted by the Dongguan Furniture Association, which represents nearly 3,000 furniture manufacturers and potential buyers of Pennsylvania hardwood supplies. Wolff will also meet with the Dairy Association of China and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products.
The mission is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council. The trade programs, offered by the Hardwoods Development Council, are designed to help companies respond to international market opportunities through direct export sales or investment initiatives.
Pennsylvania leads the nation in exporting hardwood lumber with more than $334 million in export sales. In 2006, Pennsylvania exported more than $58 million in hardwood products to China.
