Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

June 5, 1998

Dear Pennsylvania-Russia Symposium Participant:

Greetings of friendship from the Secretary of Agriculture and welcome to Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania's agriculture industry is glad you have chosen to explore opportunities in international trade. We hope your time at the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania-Russia Business Opportunity Symposium will be pleasant and beneficial to both Russia and Pennsylvania.

Agriculture is Pennsylvania's largest industry. We are aggressively pursuing economic trade relationships with other countries to increase the exchange of agricultural products and technology between our citizens and those of other nations. Pennsylvania currently exports over $983 million in agricultural products. Activities such as this Symposium are excellent venues for making trade contacts and building trade relationships.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is dedicated to achieving Governor Tom Ridge's commitment to increase international trade alliances which are of mutual benefit to Pennsylvania and other nations.

We wish you a very pleasant visit to Pennsylvania. It is our pleasure to work with you now and in the future. We appreciate the friendship which exists between us.

We hope you enjoy an excellent conference.

With warm personal regards, I remain

Sincerely,

Samuel E. Hayes, Jr.