AUGUSTA – Maine International Trade Center, the Maine Arts Commission, Forum Francophone des Affaires and the University of Southern Maine are inviting people to a networking reception to launch the 2005 gubernatorial trade mission to France and to celebrate cultural connections.

The reception is planned for Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the top floor of the USM Glickman Library on Forest Avenue in Portland.

The 2005 gubernatorial trade mission to France is planned for Oct. 22-29. Businesses that join the trade mission will be offered one-on-one business appointments, in-country market research, pre-mission videoconferencing, a pre-mission preparation seminar, market briefings, and state of Maine reception and networking events.

France is the world’s fifth-largest industrialized economy and the eighth-largest trading partner for the United States. Maine’s exports to France totaled $18.5 million in 2004, a 36 percent increase from 2003.

For more information on the reception, or to register, people are asked to visit www.mitc.com or call 207-541-7455.