Gov. Gregoire helps celebrate new shipping terminal in Vietnam

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2010

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM - On the final day of her trade mission to Asia, Gov. Chris Gregoire helped celebrate the accomplishments of SSA Marine, a Washington company that is partnering with the government port authority to build and operate a major shipping terminal in southern Vietnam. The facility is located at Cai Mep, 50 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

�The Cai Mep Port will help expedite international shipping � but even more importantly, the work SSA-Marine has done in Vietnam, their expertise, and their positive relationships with government officials reflects well on our state and paves the way for other Washington companies to do business in Vietnam,� Gregoire said at a ceremony celebrating the new shipping port. �This venture will provide greater operations � which in turn will fuel economic growth on both sides of the ocean and create jobs.�

SSA Marine has been working in Vietnam for six years to develop the Cai Mep shipping terminal. Because of its ability to serve large containerships unable to call at existing Ho Chi Minh City ports, the facility will help relieve congestion, increase efficiency and provide additional capacity to handle the region�s projected container volume growth. Vietnam�s growing economy and burgeoning middle class make it a significant emerging market for Washington products.

Jon Hemingway, chief executive officer of SSA Marine, says his company is proud to have been chosen as a partner by the government of Vietnam,Vinalines, and Saigon Port and to contribute to expanding opportunities for Washington companies in Vietnam�s growing economy. �We started in 1949 in Bellingham, Washington, and even though we�re recognized as the largest U.S. port operating company in the world, we always strive to represent our home town values,� Hemingway said.

SSA Marine is also currently developing a bulk cargo terminal near its origins in Whatcom County. Hemingway said the Whatcom County terminal will help exporters in Washington and across the Northern Tier of the U.S. be competitive with other countries in shipping their commodity goods to growing Pacific Rim markets, including Vietnam.

Also on Thursday, Gregoire joined members of the delegation at a KFC in Ho Chi Minh City to continue to promote Washington grown potato products. Washington state is the number one producer and exporter of frozen potato products, meanwhile Vietnam is the 12th largest export market at $1.4 million for frozen potato products in the U.S. While potatoes aren�t a staple of a Vietnamese diet, the country has seen a significant increase in restaurants that often rely on U.S. grown potato products.

�I told my team the other night, this trip couldn�t have been more successful,� Gregoire said. �We met with everyone from premiers to everyday citizens to tell Washington�s story, share our products and create excitement about what our businesses have to offer. I�m confident new doors will be open as a result.�