The mission of the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) is to build a strong coalition of US fiber, fabric, and end product manufacturers and to serve member company interests both domestically and internationally. USIFI member companies must:

• be incorporated
• have business headquarters or significant manufacturing in the United States
• service or supply the United States specialty fabrics industry with products

USIFI is part of the not-for-profit Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), the global association for the specialty fabrics industry.

The Numbers: Goods/services exports as percent of U.S. GDP:

• 1957: 5.2%
• 1982: 8.7%
• 2000: 11.2.%
• 2002: 9.3%
• 2006: 11.0%
• 2007: 11.7%

What They Mean: In 2007, Americans produced $13.8 trillion worth of goods and services. Of this total, $1.64 trillion -- 11.7 percent, or a bit more than one in nine dollars' worth of production -- went overseas. The figure is a modern-era record, eclipsing the old 11.2 percent mark set in 2000 and reflecting a $175 billion jump in goods and services exports. This was the largest increase ever -- in real-dollar as well as current-dollar terms -- and was the main factor keeping the United States out of recession in the autumn and winter.

For further reading, click this link: http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?contentID=254596&knlgAreaID=108&subsecID=127&FREM=Y&sid=1&mid=26841

Fascinating reading from February 19, 2008 ThomasNet.com, Industrial Market Trends:

How do today's countries stack up against each other? Examining key factors -- education, market size and efficiency, infrastructure and innovation -- we look at the latest global rankings. Check it out:

http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2008/01/global_competitiveness_rankings_who_is_on_top.html

The Bush administration will mount a “relentless” campaign over the next two months in an effort to secure congressional approval of the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement. While administration officials continue to say they want to work with Democratic leaders to push through legislation implementing this FTA, some observers say that if that strategy does not work the White House could try to force a vote.

Read the full story here:  http://www.behind-the-seams.com/industry/080129/Industry_080129a.html

Website Editor's Note:  USIFI is pushing for legislation to help U.S. businesses stay competitive worldwide; unfair subsidies and currency manipulation are contribute to the lopsided trade climate and may best be solved through legislation.

By James A. Morrissey, Washington Correspondent

As Congress continues to move forward with legislation to do something about the US/China trade deficit, a top Department of Commerce trade official has outlined how the Bush administration plans to deal with Chinese trade issues. Read the full story in Textile World: http://www.textileworld.com/Articles/2008/February_2008/Textile_World_News/Morrissey_Feb_Fifth_Story.html

On 1 January 2008, the multilateral trading system will celebrate its 60th anniversary. This year's World Trade Report celebrates this landmark anniversary with an in-depth look at the GATT and its successor the WTO. “By striking an ambitious and development-oriented agreement in the Doha Round we can greatly strengthen a system which has done much to make the world a better place,” said Director-General Pascal Lamy.

Download a copy of the full 2007 WTO Trade Report at this link: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/wtr_arc_e.htm

The member companies of USIFI had the unparalleled opportunity to join an Institute-sponsored Trade Mission to the Arabian Peninsula (see left side bar). The Mission, from October 18 - November 1, has returned to the U.S. with a good many business contacts to pursue and many stories to share about their experiences.

Delegation companies and personnel:

• Ray Peebles, Cooley Group, Pawtucket, RI
• Nadeem Ghani, Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, SC and Karachi, Pakistan
• Joe Fields, Outdoor Venture Corporation, Stearns, KY
• Joey Underwood, Safety Components, Greenville, SC
• Mary Lynn Landgraf, US Department of Commerce, Washington, DC

In order to get a feel of the Mission, read the daily reports sent by the delegation:

DAY 3 - Jordan

After the cultural introduction to Jordan on Saturday, the delegation started early Sunday morning with a breakfast meeting with Senior Commercial Officer, Sheryl Pinckney-Maas, U.S. Commercial Service in Amman. Ms. Pinckney-Maas gave the delegation a good overview of the booming Jordanian economy as well as some tips on doing business in the country.

At 9 a.m. the delegation moved to its specially appointed meeting room for appointments. Each member of the USIFI Trade Mission delegation met individually with Jordanian companies interested in working with the U.S. companies. While most of the meetings were conducted onsite in the appointed meeting room, offsite meetings were spun off in the early afternoon. Joe Fields, Outdoor Venture Corporation, met with personnel at a nearby military base and Joey Underwood, Safety Components, visited a trading house in Amman and then had a late afternoon meeting with an aerospace company.

The group lunched with Chairman Raja Khouri and Chief Executive Officer Ms. Abeer Al Refai, representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan.  Both the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan and the Jordanian companies expressed how they liked to work with Americans. They were very appreciative of the group's effort in coming to their country.

That evening the group visited a downtown shopping mall to observe the modernization and expansion of the city and to observe firsthand local culture.

DAY 6 - Kuwait and Oman

Kuwait City, Kuwait: On Day 6 of the Mission, the delegation departed bright and early Wednesday morning for a meeting with the Kuwait International Chamber of Commerce. The delegation was treated to a film and lecture on the Kuwaiti economic scene.

Mission leader, Joey Underwood, Safety Components and current USIFI Chairman of the Board, gave a presentation on our USIFI mission, on the companies, and expressed our pleasure in visiting Kuwait and enjoying the generous hospitality of the Kuwaitis.

A hail of flashing cameras greeted the speech and the delegation's presentation. The Kuwait Chamber receives over 100 international delegations annually yet we were only the second US mission this year to visit Kuwait. Hence, our presence sparked intense media coverage. Five representatives of the print media and one TV station filmed the meeting for the evening broadcast and the print media confirmed we would appear in 4 to 5 local and international dailies on Thursday.   (See the article in Kuwait Times:  http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NTU2NjAxNDk2)

Interest generated at the morning session piqued requests for ancillary meetings off-site at several of the Kuwait firms. These abbreviated meetings led to the request for further dialog and meetings to be followed up later this year and the beginning of the New Year.

One Kuwaiti businessman said, “We've just been waiting for you to come.”

DAY 7 - Muscat, Oman

This morning the delegation received a firsthand overview of the Omani economy from State Department Economic Officer Brian Grimm. After a brief overview, Brian took the delegation on a “windshield tour” of Muscat and surrounding area.

Following the tour the delegation met with Mr. Ali Daud of Daud & Sons International, LLC and the President of the Muscat American Business Council, receiving information on construction and business projects scheduled for Oman.

 “America gives the best value for the money, especially with the current dollar exchange rate,” according to Mr. Daud.

Each delegation gave a presentation on his company which sparked a good deal of interest for upcoming Omani projects. As a result of interest generated at the morning meeting, an afternoon session was scheduled with Mr. Daud and an Omani consultant for more in-depth discussions on company products.

A few free hours were set aside for catching up on business emails and appointment follow ups. In the evening the delegation experienced Omani cuisine at an acclaimed hotel.

DAY 8 – Oman

Throughout the Middle East the traditional day of rest and prayer is Friday. The delegation capitalized on the down time to explore several of the key natural areas of Oman.

Our group began its adventuresome day at 8 a.m. and departed with their guide, Abdullah, on its Desert Discovery tour. Heading west-southwest, the delegation watched steep rugged mountains fade into hills approximately three hours into the journey.  We turned off onto the Wahibah Sands, one of the oldest deserts of the world.

Strategic stops were made to photograph dramatic desert/hill shots and, of course, photos of the ubiquitous camel. Posing with camels was one of the highlights of the day!

From there it was off to the dunes of Ramlat al Wahibah to experience the thrill of dune driving. With rolling dunes reaching up to 100 meters, you only imagine the anticipation and squeals as the Range Rover perched itself on the dune crest for the downward direct descent from the top of the dune! After five or six of these breath taking descents, Nadeem Ghani and Ray Peebles each had the opportunity to drive the Rover down a dune to add the excitement of the activity. Joey Underwood and Nadeem Ghani were straddled on the luggage rack for one of the high dune descents.

DAY 9 - Oman

The adventures and oasis visit of Friday were a mere memory on Saturday morning as the delegation departed at 9 a.m. to visit key Board members at the Oman Chamber of Commerce. A resounding message at each chamber in the various countries visited on the Mission has been their interest in having more U.S. companies come to the region to do business. U.S. products are sought after due to their quality, engineering and price.

After a productive visit complete with lively Q&A, the group returned to the Muscat Grand Hyatt to begin the one-on-one meetings. A brief lunch break was factored into the schedule. Due to interest in multiple companies the delegates’ schedules became very tightly booked. Joe Fields, who had the latest meeting addition and the last appointment of the day, had a mere few minutes to freshen up before our 5 p.m. reception on the hotel's elegant elevated terrace.

Our host for the evening reception was the Honorable Gary Grappa, U.S. Ambassador to Oman.

Traveling through the desert from Muscat to Dubai

A big bright Omani sun greeted the delegation for their early departure van ride to Dubai. Armed with a quick cup of coffee and rolls and with the pleasant farewell greetings of our State Department host, Brian Grimm, the van inched its way out of the driveway. With suitcases piled high, sample bags rumbling around and shopping bags in tow, we began the adventuresome ride along the coast, over the rugged dry mountain terrain and through the desert. Aside from the raves of the rugged natural beauty of Oman, we passed a camel ranch (no joke), and fruit plantations and fertile date palm clusters. The openness of the space and its partial emptiness were about to give way to the economic and building boom of Dubai.

Day 11 - Dubai

Dubai's U.S. DOC Commercial Service put a new spin on the meeting plan. Our format here consisted of the individual delegates and their Commercial Service sponsor taking a driver and car for the day and physically going to the appointments at each businessman's office.

Ray Peebles, Cooley Group, had a completely full day with 6 separate appointments and a seventh, unscheduled, later that evening at the hotel. He was very pleased with the quality of contacts and the potential business for his company.

Joey Underwood, Safety Components, also had six appointments and some additional strong leads for follow up at a later time.

Joe Fields, Outdoor Venture Corporation, did not have as many appointments, but his meetings were wide-spread, requiring considerable travel time between each. His less hectic schedule allowed the opportunity to spend quality time at each of the meetings.

Day 12 - Abu Dhabi - A New Twist on Group Appointments

The oft-used quote "If the mountain will not come to Mohammad then Mohammed will have to go to the mountain" seemed appropriate for our litany of appointments on the first day of our stay in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and hence the location of top governmental, military, embassy and NGO headquarters.

The group was picked up at 8:30 a.m. with the focus of meeting the military procurement officers at Special Operations Forces. After multiple clearance procedures at the military base, the group met with the Director of the Purchasing Department and several of his key colleagues. Each of our companies gave a presentation to this august body. A lively Q & A followed with plans on how to proceed in future with samples and follow up visits.

Joey Underwood presented information on the USIFI and presented gifts from the association.

As we were about to depart, our hosts ushered us into another part of the conference room where we found the most lovely table bedecked with sweet and savory specialties in great abundance--all homemade in our honor. The food was excellent and prepared to perfection. The group enjoyed not only the fine dishes but also the cordial hospitality shown to us. This was Middle Eastern hospitality at its finest moment and served at a military base!

Although the mission was winding down on this, the last official day, the business activities were in full swing. After an early breakfast the group visited the Headquarters of the U.A.E. Marines/Navy. After a lengthy meeting there, the group proceeded to its next appointment with the national gas company.

The group then finished its packing, had a late lunch and headed out for Dubai in preparation for the flight that evening. The van ride from Abu Dhabi proved more time consuming than anticipated. Heavy traffic and congestion stymied our planned early arrival in Dubai.

Ray Peebles had a 5 p.m. appointment and Joey Underwood and Ray Fields accompanied Mary Lynn Landgraf to the Dubai Expo Center to check on the U.S. Department of Commerce booth at Index.