FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michelle Reardon

Tuesday, July 6, 2000

302/577-8701

WHO: Darrell J. Minott, Director, Delaware Economic Development Office
Senator Nancy Cook (D-Kenton), Co-Chair, Joint Finance Committee
Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington East), member Joint Finance Committee
Representative Roger Roy (R-Limestone Hills), Co-Chair, Bond Bill Committee
Representative Donna Stone (R-Dover South), Chair, House Committee on Economic Development, Banking and Insurance
Dan Wolfensberger, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Hazell Reed, Dean, Delaware State University
Chuck Rudd, President, Mechanical Systems International
Ahmed Amer, President, Amer Industrial Technology

WHAT: DEDO Director Darrell Minott and four Delaware legislators will lead a trade mission of Delaware businesses during a one week visit to Taipei to open the Delaware-Taiwan Trade Office. The Trade Office, located in the World Trade Center in Taipei, will help promote Delaware businesses in the Far East.

Representatives' Roger Roy, Joe DiPinto and Bob Gilligan discovered the opportunities for Delaware businesses in Taiwan during a visit last year. Taiwan was selected because it fits the state's international economic development strategy to develop trade relations with countries with similar focuses in the areas of life sciences, information technology and advanced materials.

During the trade mission, the Delaware delegation will also meet with Dr. Chang Po-ya, Provincial Governor of Taiwan, to discuss creating a sister-state relationship between Delaware and Taiwan. In addition to fostering an increase in trade and business between the two countries, a sister-state agreement will foster cultural and educational exchanges as well as creating tourism partnerships.

As part of Delaware's three-pronged economic development strategy, focusing on life sciences, information technology and advanced materials, the Delaware trade delegation will meet with the Hsinchu Science Park and the Taiwan Biotechnology Development Center. Direct linkages and partnerships between these organizations and related Delaware organizations such as the Delaware Technology Park, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Kent County Business Incubator at Delaware state University and Garrison Oak Technology Park will be sought. In addition, the state delegation will meet with the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association to learn how to link the Taiwanese semiconductor industry, among the strongest in the world, into Delaware's three-pronged technology initiatives.

In 1999, Delaware exports to Taiwan totaled $217 million. Of that, 73% were chemicals.

WHERE: TRADE MISSION TO TAIPEI, TAIWAN. LIVE MEDIA INTERVIEWS CAN BE ARRANGED!!

WHEN: JULY 8-14, 2000

DETAILS: For more information about the trade mission, or to arrange live media interviews, contact Michelle Reardon at (302) 577-8701 before July 8 or Jennifer Boes (302) 672-6840.

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