Next week, I will join Gov. Paul Le-Page and others on a seven-day trade mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai.

This trip marks the first time a Maine governor has led a trade mission to mainland China. Our primary goal will be to generate more investment in Maine and promote Maine products and the Maine brand.

It’s clear; Maine businesses crave new export markets for their goods and services. Last year, roughly 2,000 Maine companies exported a record $3.4 billion across the globe. Maine exports to China, in particular, are up nearly 100 percent over the last five years.

The world’s second largest economy is now the state’s third largest foreign market with $275 million of Maine products exported in 2011.

All this means huge opportunity for Maine businesses to expand their sales in China, which in turn will boost the potential for new jobs being created here at home.

Thirteen Maine businesses and organizations are taking part in the trade mission. Through one-on-one matchmaking meetings they will have opportunities to build business relationships with commercial partners across a variety of sectors, including seafood, wood pulp, paper and paperboard, biotech and medical products, electrical machinery, industrial machinery and aircraft parts.

China is now the second-largest market for medical devices because of an increasing demand for medical equipment. For companies such as Lighthouse Imaging in Portland, one of the many trade show participants, it is all about making face-to-face connections with key importers and distributors. Lighthouse is looking to develop a Chinese market for its optical medical products.

All of us in the LePage administration are proud to have the opportunity to promote the Maine brand and let the folks in China in on what we already know: Made in Maine means quality.

George C. Gervais, commissioner Department of Economic and Community Development

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