U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez

The presentation is titled "Keeping our Economy Strong Through International Trade". The presentation will cover economic concerns, free trade agreements, and the farm bill.

"This is a great opportunity for the poultry industry to provide Secretary Gutierrez with an accurate picture of how the industry is actively looking toward export markets," said John Starkey, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association president.

"His visit will enable us to communicate the concerns and challenges we face in conducting business internationally."

American Feed Industry Association President Joel Newman added: "We are very pleased to welcome Secretary Gutierrez to one of the world’s foremost agricultural events. AFIA has traditionally maintained a fast-paced international agenda on behalf of the feed industry, addressing a variety of World Trade Organization issues, trade pacts with several countries and most recently, the safety of imported ingredients. The Secretary’s perspective on these and related subjects, as well as interaction with attendees, will add to our overall expo programs’ appeal."

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez is the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Kellogg Company. Secretary Gutierrez is a core member of President Bush’s economic team.

In nominating Gutierrez, President Bush said: "He understands the world of business, from the first rung on the ladder to the very top. He knows exactly what it takes to help American businesses grow and to create jobs."

Secretary Gutierrez oversees a diverse Cabinet agency with some 38,000 workers and a $6.5 billion budget focused on promoting American business at home and abroad. His department gathers vast quantities of economic and demographic data to measure the health and vitality of the economy, promotes U.S. exports, enforces international trade agreements, regulates the export of sensitive goods and technologies, issues patents and trademarks, protects intellectual property, forecasts the weather, conducts oceanic and atmospheric research, provides stewardship over living marine resources, develops and applies technology, measurements and standards, formulates telecommunications and technology policy, fosters minority business development and promotes economic growth in distressed communities.

Opening international markets to U.S. companies to create jobs and build a stronger America is a top priority for Secretary Gutierrez. "Opening markets is a central piece of President Bush’s pro-growth agenda. We need to build on our export growth momentum and the best way to do that is through opening new markets and free trade agreements like those with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and South Korea," said Gutierrez.

The presentation will take place on Thursday, 24 January at 10:30 a.m. in C102 of the Georgia World Congress Center.

For more information on the International Poultry Expo and the International Feed Expo or to register for the show, go to www.ipe08.org or phone +1 (770) 493-9401.