The FINANCIAL -- FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is collaborating with the Commerce Department's U.S. Commercial Service on a trade mission to Europe April 11-16.

The Green Industries Trade Mission will bring representatives of 25 U.S.-based businesses to eight European countries to engage with government and industry leaders in Europe, and assess the business climate in selected countries. U.S. trade mission participants will also showcase their newest innovations in environmentally-sustainable products and services, helping them identify new business opportunities with European partners, distributors, agents and buyers.

FedEx has received official designation of this mission as a Department of Commerce Certified Trade Mission. Delegates will begin the mission in France and select two other countries for on-site visits from among Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

"Our overarching goal at FedEx is to help connect the world in environmentally-responsible and resourceful ways, so it follows that we would also make it easier for companies to access new markets with their green' products and services," said Mitch Jackson, vice president, Environmental Affairs/Sustainability, FedEx Corp. "By holding this trade mission, FedEx, with the support of the U.S. Commercial Service, will provide U.S. businesses with valuable networking opportunities needed to grow their businesses while promoting sustainability."

The companies participating in the trade mission represent small and medium-sized businesses and sectors that include lighting equipment, energy management, smart grid management, medical devices, and doors, windows and hardware.

"This trade mission represents an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the best and most innovative green' technologies that U.S. companies have to offer, and will provide businesses with access to new potential customers in the European market," said Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. "Through the National Export Initiative, President Obama is committed to doubling overall U.S. exports within the next five years, and expanding U.S. exports that contribute to a sustainable environment while creating jobs and economic growth is a key priority. The International Trade Administration is pleased to support this initiative and this trade mission."

Coinciding with the beginning of the trade mission, on April 12 the U.S. Embassy in France and the City of Paris"in association with the American Chamber of Commerce, the French-American Foundation, FedEx Corp. and Microsoft "will host a one-day conference, "The Greening of America: An Opportunity for Europe?" at the Microsoft Conference Center. Trade mission delegates will join more than 200 participants from the business community on both sides of the Atlantic to hear from world's foremost entrepreneurs, policy-makers and opinion leaders speak on the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead in green industries.

The following day, the U.S. Commercial Service will host its "Green Embassies" conference, and trade mission delegates will begin travel to the two additional European countries they have selected for on-site visits and in-country activities. At every stop, the U.S. Commercial Service, through its matchmaking service, will arrange for delegates to meet with potential business partners, distributors, agents or buyers through appointments scheduled in advance with prescreened business contacts. The mission places significant emphasis on these private matchmaking meetings.

Delegates will also meet with key contacts from European businesses, U.S. executives already successful in this market, government officials, trade specialists, and others. This mission will provide U.S. delegates with important networking opportunities and market intelligence to help them successfully expand into this dynamic market. European companies, in turn, will have the opportunity to develop new partnerships with U.S. firms, and identify and source some of the latest "green" technologies from the United States.

Since 2004, FedEx and the U.S. Commercial Service have operated a trade promotion initiative under the U.S. Commercial Service's Strategic Partnership Program to help simplify the complexity of international trade, particularly for small and medium-size businesses looking to source and sell in the global marketplace. In May 2007, the U.S. Commercial Service awarded FedEx a new contract for up to five years to continue its efforts to boost exports from U.S. businesses. To date, through this partnership, tens of thousands of clients have been exposed to the business of exporting. Department of Commerce certification of this trade mission is independent of these contract activities.

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