News Releases for March 2004
March 16, 2004
Contact: Gary Price, (701) 838-2901, Les Knudson, (701) 965-6241 or Don Canton, (701) 328-2200
Cal-Dak Cabinets And Superior Grains Represent North Dakota On Trade Mission To Taiwan And Japan
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gary Price of Cal-Dak Cabinets in Minot and Jerome and Marilyn Knudson of Superior Grains in Crosby will accompany Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple on a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan designed to expand North Dakota’s export opportunities. Gov. John Hoeven organized this mission in response to an invitation from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).
Cal-Dak Cabinets and Superior Grains are two of 11 North Dakota businesses departing Friday for a one-week mission to Asia to represent the state’s manufacturing and value-added agriculture industries, while identifying new markets for their products.
Price, president of Cal-Dak Cabinets, who is already selling cabinets to Japan, sees this mission as an opportunity to increase sales in Japan and to open Taiwan as a new market. Cal-Dak Cabinets builds custom cabinetry using formaldehyde-free products, which are required for use in Japan.
“We build residential and commercial cabinetry to individual specifications and desires,” said Price. “Because of the size of our company and equipment, we are in a good position to compete globally using formaldehyde-free materials. We are interested in providing full container loads of product to Taiwan and Japan on a regular basis.”
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, $24,000 of wood products was exported from North Dakota to Taiwan in 1999. Taiwan is emerging from a recession and is experiencing strong growth, and according to U. S. Commercial Services, household goods are a promising sector for export into Taiwan.
The export of wood products from North Dakota to Japan has increased dramatically since 2000, exceeding $1 million last year.
Superior Grains currently sells durum, spring wheat, peas, lentils, chic peas, barley and triticale in the Pacific Rim. Knudson is pleased to go on this mission and expects to increase trade with these countries in part due to the additional contacts he will make by visiting each country in person. Superior Grains will have access to government officials who, in these countries, directly influence trade partners.
Direct export of crop production to Taiwan from North Dakota was over $600,000 in 2003. In Japan, crop production imports from North Dakota were almost $3.5 million. According to the Foreign Ag Service, from 2002 - 2003, the total U.S. exports of pulse crops (peas, lentils, chickpeas) increased 11 percent in Japan and 103 percent in Taiwan.
According to Les Knudson, president of Superior Grains, “The timing of this mission couldn’t be better for us. These economies are increasing at the same time demand for North Dakota crops have been clearly identified. It’s time North Dakota gets a foot in the door to increase our market share in Taiwan and Japan. Building markets for our agricultural products will help all of us in North Dakota.”
“With this mission, we are extending our economic development efforts beyond the borders of North Dakota and the United States in order to tap the enormous trade potential of growing markets in Asia,” said Hoeven. “This effort will further enhance the ability of our state’s businesses to diversify our economy, which creates new wealth and higher-paying jobs for our citizens.”
In addition to Price and the Knudsons, the delegation will include six other value-added agriculture-related businesses and three other manufacturers. The delegation will depart North Dakota on March 19 and arrive in Taiwan on March 20. The group will arrive in Japan on March 25 and return to North Dakota on March 28.
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