State of Alaska: office of the Governor Juneau.

October 2007

Dear Alaskans:

We congratulate the board and staff of World Trade Center Alaska on their 20th anniversary.

Alaskans have been first-rate at international trade for decades. To our friends in international markets, thank you for your friendship and trade. Alaska welcomes your business and investment.

We have a renewed energy in Alaska--it's not just from our abundant natural resources, it's from Alaskans. We see it in our cities, our communities, and in state government. We are bringing that clear and sustained energy to international trade as well.

International trade is important to Alaska. Our exports grew more than 12 percent last year, and, for the first time, our annual exports topped $4 billion in 2006. We are helping our economy and economies around the world through trade.

In all our efforts, we will keep Alaska residents first. We will help Alaska businesses succeed in their key international markets. We will improve Alaska's positive international relations with our key trading partners. We will help open new doors. And we will avoid costly duplication of efforts by cooperating with important and established Alaska industry promotional associations such as the World Trade Center Alaska.

Education helps trade, too. International courses and programs at our schools and universities help us excel in international markets. We must further prepare Alaska and Alaskans for international investment and trade opportunities by encouraging education that includes strong work force development and job training for our high-wage energy and mining industries. Those industries are critical to economic development in rural Alaska and are an important part of our international trade picture.

Sincerely,

SARAH PALIN

GOVERNOR

GOVERNOR@GOV.STATE.AK.US

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