PRESS RELEASE For Release on April 1, 1999

For Information Contact
Elizabeth Dodge, Executive Director
FFA-USA
Tel: (207)782-2445
Fax: (207)782-6905

Lewiston, Maine….The Forum Francophone des Affaires, FFA-USA, will lead a delegation of businesses to the 7^th International FFA Congress in Bathurst, New Brunswick on June 13, 1999. For the first time, the U.S. Chapter will participate as full members of the French-speaking business network. "We are fortunate that the FFA Congress is so close to the U.S. this year," Severin Beliveau, President of the FFA-USA. "I attended the FFA Congress in Vietnam in November, 1997. Based on that experience, I can say that the Bathurst Congress is a major international business opportunity"

The FFA International Congress is a trade show, business matching event and meeting of forty-five chapters of the Forum Francophone des Affaires from the French-speaking world. The FFA holds their international meetings every two years on a different continent. In 1997, the FFA Congress was in Vietnam and in 2001 the event will be in Beirut, Lebanon.

The FFA-USA was founded in early 1997 and has been in operation in Lewiston, Maine, since early 1998. The organization promotes trade with French-speaking countries thereby demonstrating the continuing value of the French language in the market place.

The FFA-USA will be represented in Bathurst by Directors and member businesses and will host a reception for the international delegates. We will present seminars on doing business in the United States. The U.S. Delegation will have a minimum of 20 exhibits at the trade show which will be open to the public as well as to Congress participants.

Bathurst is a beautiful place to visit in June. Many of the international visitors plan to extend their visits to the area to enjoy the beaches, beautiful landscape and hospitable French-speaking residents of the area. The City of Bathurst is waiting to welcome the FFA delegations from around the world.

The FFA Congress is first-class opportunity to show U.S. products to businesses from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and other countries. The sectors being showcased include emerging technologies, food products, forest products, textile, mining and all the services related to international business and import export activities. The largest delegations will be from Canada and Europe and the United States. Exhibit services will include a computerized networking center and active conference schedule. The "Carrefour" Trade Show will include a teleconferencing facility, Internet Café and CDRom viewer for presenting your company to the public. Exhibitors can contact the FFA-USA for details.

Transportation, accommodation, meals and conference fees, the three-day Congress will be approximately $800. Exhibit booths are $200. Travel arrangements are by Carlson Wagonlit Dube Cruise and Travel who will also make individual travel arrangements as needed.

For businesses in Maine, the Bathurst trade show will be the first of a series of reciprocal business show and meeting opportunities for contact with new or existing customers. A few of these are the Maine New Brunswick Partnership Meeting will in Bangor, November 3-5, 1999, Co-Entreprise in the fall of 1999 and Futurallia2000 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in June of next year.

"The FFA-USA was established to promote trade with French speaking countries. The 7^th FFA Congress is a major opportunity for New England and other French-speaking business people interested in doing business in the rest of the Francophone world. Our Board will lead a strong delegation of U.S. businesses to the Congress. We already have at least a dozen businesses ready to go." Severin Beliveau, said today.

Interested businesses should contact the FFA-USA office at 207-782-2445 or e-mail to execdirector@ffa-usa.org There is also additional information on the website at www.ffa-usa.org

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Please call Severin Beliveau, Esq., President of the FFA-USA at Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau, Pachios and Haley - Telephone: 207-623-5300. or Elizabeth Dodge at 207.782.2445 for details.

Additional information also available on:

• 1999 FFA Congress web site at www.ffa99.org
• Bathurst, New Brunswick at www.bathurstca.com
• FFA-USA at www.ffa-usa.org

Join the FFA-USA in New Brunswick for our first FFA Congress as participating chapter. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet and talk with companies from all over the world. Whether you are looking for customers for your products, for sourcing for your production needs or a partnership with your company on other projects.

The theme of the Congress is "Changes on the eve of the 3^rd Millenium." The Congress will focus on new technology.

Benefits of participating in the FFA International Congress, June 13-16, 1999 are:

• Businesses from 45 French-speaking regions and countries.
• Sectors showcased are emerging technologies, wood products, food products, textiles, mining and services supporting import, export and international business, including banking, legal, immigration, freight forwarders, accounting, insurance.
• Meeting space for one-to-one business meetings.
• Exhibit space provided for participants.
• Translators provided where needed.
• Total cost for your company representative for four days in Bathurst, New Brunswick, including transportation, hotel, gala dinner, reception, meals and Congress registration fees is $800. Additional representatives or family members attend at reduced cost.
• Optional additional stay may be arranged at your cost including business meetings if requested.

Visit a truly beautiful part of Canada and enjoy international opportunity close to home.

The FFA-USA manages all travel arrangements and forum registration for your company.

Check out the Congress website at: http://www.ffa99.org and then contact us to participate in this significant business opportunity.

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Please call Elizabeth Dodge at 207.782.2445 for further interview sources.
Additional information also available on:

• 1999 FFA Congress web site at www.ffa99.org
• Bathurst, New Brunswick at www.bathurstca.com
• FFA-USA at www.ffa-usa.org