A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to APPROPRIATE funds to the department of commerce to establish a trade office in the Republic of china.
Whereas, currently, North Carolina maintains foreign office operations that serve the citizens of North Carolina by matching hundreds of North Carolina businesses with partnering opportunities in these prosperous foreign nations; and
Whereas, North Carolina has an opportunity to establish a trade office in the Taipei World Trade Center in the Republic of China; and
Whereas, the government of the Republic of China has graciously offered to defray a considerable amount of the expenses in establishing the new trade office, including offers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to subsidize rental fees for four years and from the Taipei World Trade Office to provide free office equipment; and
Whereas, a trade office in the Republic of China would serve as an ideal location to market North Carolina's tobacco, soybean, and biotechnology products; and
Whereas, some Republic of China companies such as Delta Electronics, Foxconne Electronics, Winstron, and Everlight Chemicals have operation centers in North Carolina; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of eighty‑two thousand four hundred thirty‑two dollars ($82,432) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year to establish a trade office in the Taipei World Trade Center in the Republic of China.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.