Baucus Joins with Ambassadors from Across the Globe to Announce 2011 Asia-Pacific Trade Summit

Finance Chairman Kicks Off Ambassadors’ Tour of Montana, Announces Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Host Committee

Bozeman, Mont. – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) stood with Ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region today to officially launch the Montana Host Committee for key Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2011 meetings.  The APEC trade meetings will bring cabinet-level representatives of 21 APEC members, along with hundreds of other officials, to Big Sky, Montana next May to discuss ways to deepen the Asia-Pacific trade and economic relationship.  The summit in Big Sky will include the APEC Trade Ministers meetings, as well as the meetings of the Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises Ministers, which will focus on supporting economic opportunities for small businesses. 

“The Asia-Pacific markets are expanding quickly and offer a tremendous opportunity to ranchers, farmers and other exporters in Montana and across the country.  We worked hard to bring the APEC meetings to Montana because as our ties with APEC grow deeper, Montana’s – and America’s – futures grow brighter,” Baucus said.  “The APEC meetings in Big Sky next year will give us the opportunity to show the world all this great state has to offer.”

APEC is a group of 21 Asia-Pacific member economies, including the United States, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Taiwan, that have joined together to facilitate economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.  In 2008, Montana exported nearly $400 million of merchandise to countries in Asia alone.  Montana’s exports to Asia have grown over 320 percent since 2001.  Last year, Baucus urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and other Obama Administration officials to hold the APEC 2011 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Montana.

The Montana Host Committee, led by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, includes ranchers and farmers from across the state, manufacturing and high-tech companies, local government officials, think tanks, sheriffs’ offices and local Chambers of Commerce.  The Host Committee will be responsible for organizing logistical support from the public and private sectors to help make the summit a success.

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