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| Maine Governor Baldacci led State of Maine Trade and Tourism Mission to France |
| John E. Baldacci, Governor
of the State of Maine, led a Trade and Tourism Mission to France
from October 22-29, 2006, making Maine one of the first U.S. states
to hold an official Trade and Tourism Mission to France since September
11th, 2001 The Maine International Trade Center is organizing the
trip,. An indication of France’s importance to Maine as an international
partner, both for Trade and Tourism, is the fact that trade with France
was up 57% last year with exports totaling $18.6 million. and that
15 French Tour Operators are now programming Maine in their brochures
The Trade and Tourism Mission will visit Lyon and Paris. Companies from the food processing, metal products, log home, mega yacht, energy products, and tourism industries will be present in the delegation of thirty. In each city, Maine and French companies will participate in matchmaking meetings and a special reception, hosted by the Maine delegation. The choice of France for this important Mission emphasizes the interest the State has in increasing the French visitors to their State. For the past three years, Maine has been active in the French outbound tourism market through its Paris-based representative Nancy Masse of N.M. Marketing. Maine boasts the largest francophone community in the U.S. and has strong cultural and historical ties to France and the Acadian heritage of its neighbor Canada. |
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