26th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, Resolution 25-6 established the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization with the mandate to examine and make recommendations regarding issues, opportunities, and constraints related to trade and globalization, relative to the New England and Eastern Canadian regions; and

WHEREAS, a successful Knowledge Industry Innovators' Forum, hosted by the Province of New Brunswick, resulted in the identification of issues critical to the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast; and

WHEREAS, the Conference is desirous of working together, in cooperation with the business community, to promote economic growth, facilitate trade flows across borders, and identify future opportunities for trade development;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt the 2001-03 work plan of the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference mandate its Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization to enter into discussions with the business and research communities regarding the development of a trade and infrastructure study that will examine current and future opportunities for trade development and identify strategic infrastructure development/coordination opportunities to fully realize the region's commercial potential in the future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Governors of the New England States and the Premiers of the Eastern Canadian Provinces direct the Trade and Globalization Committee to seek appropriate resources to undertake a trade and infrastructure study for the region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference direct its Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization to continue working with innovators to profile the region's knowledge economy sector, identify key public and private sector institutions in order to encourage the development of a strong, representative, regional network to assist Governors and Premiers in facilitating the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization report to Governors and Premiers progress on these initiatives at the next NEG/ECP Conference.

Adopted at the 26^th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, August 26-28, 2001.

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