POLISH-AMERICAN BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL IN POLAND TO
STRENGTHEN U.S.-POLAND COMMERCIAL TIES

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development Linda Mysliwy Conlin is in Poland to advance the Bush Administration's continued efforts to strengthen economic and commercial relations between the U.S. and Poland.

"The Bush Administration has made it a priority to strengthen U.S.-Polish commercial ties," said Conlin. "And as a Polish-American, it is a special privilege for me to participate in these efforts. We have a real opportunity to increase trade and investment between our countries."

In July, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and President Bush established an Economic/Commercial Dialogue to resolve market access issues and to promote bilateral commercial activity. Conlin will visit Warsaw, Krakow and Gorlice December 3-9, 2002 to build upon the efforts of Commerce Under Secretary Grant Aldonas, who visited the region in October and to prepare for Commerce Secretary Don Evans' proposed visit in Spring 2003.

Conlin will address market access issues, meet with Polish business leaders and U.S. businesses with facilities in the country, and explore business development opportunities with the Polish government. With the Ministries of Infrastructure, Environment and Health, she will explore areas where U.S. and Polish companies can work jointly in such sectors as IT, telecommunications, environmental technologies, medical equipment and transportation infrastructure.

Conlin will also visit Gorlice, which was the home of her paternal grandparents. Her maternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Jeziorek and Wyzna.

The Office of Trade Development (TD) at the U.S. Department of Commerce offers U.S. businesses resources and services for all stages of the exporting process. With industry-focused experts to provide strategic research and analysis, TD helps small and large U.S. businesses access the global marketplace. TD also administers 1-800-USA-TRADE, a nationwide hotline available to companies seeking government export assistance and counseling.