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By ELIZABETH COMEAU
Staff Writer 12/13/2007

Eichenbaum also hopes that means more money -- and more jobs.

"I do have contracts with agents to represent the product in good faith, but I don't have purchase orders from them for actual products yet," Eichenbaum said. "I'm working on the translated packaging for my product now."

Eichenbaum's Augusta-based company, The Baggler Co., was one of 14 business and educational organizations on the trade mission, which ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3.

The Baggler is a plastic device Eichenbaum invented that makes it easier to carry multiple shopping bags. The device is now sold in seven countries, but Eichenbaum said that number could jump to as many as 12 by the middle of February if his trade talks pan out.

Industries represented in the trade mission -- Baldacci's fourth -- included education, seafood, tourism, agriculture, wood and wood pulp, landscaping machinery, information technology, law, consumer goods and building products.

The Maine International Trade Center, a Portland-based nonprofit that organizes the trips, says the meetings between Maine businesses and potential product distributors in the Asian nations are expected to generate $3 million in sales in the next year.

The center, which has been organizing the trips for 10 years, chose Japan and South Korea because both are among the top five countries importing Maine exports, which include education and food products.

"If we double our sales, more people need to be hired," Eichenbaum said. "Being part of the governor's trade mission helped me because of what it represented in terms of his status among the Japanese society."

If Gov. John Baldacci's most recent trade mission abroad is as successful as years past -- the sales generated by the previous three trade missions are pegged at about $12 million, according to the Maine International Trade Center-- Eichenbaum's hope of doubling his company sales may become reality.

"This has been a very exciting time for my company," Eichenbaum said. "As far as Mainers go, I think we're all very excited that this is helping us open up doors for trade."

"It was fascinating to watch Mark," Baldacci said Wednesday. "He was very aggressive and determined. We were all rooting for him to do well."

"While we believe these trade missions can benefit businesses of all sizes, it's smaller Maine businesses that can really benefit," Baldacci said. "They don't have offices overseas and need help navigating their way through the process. The trade mission puts them on a world stage. Once they get there, Maine's businesses perform very well."

"Maine can't wait for new business and customers to wash up on the shore. We have to go after them and be proactive. Maine is full of innovative people and our state is known around the world for integrity and quality. The trade missions help us spread that message."

Elizabeth Comeau -- 623-3811, Ext. 433

ecomeau@centralmaine.com

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