Remarks for the Opening of
Reade International Ltd. office in Panama City
AMBASSADOR LINDA E. WATT
Tuesday, October 7, 2003
It is my pleasure to participate in the inauguration of the Latin America Sales Office
of Reade International Ltd.
Reade International is the oldest continuously operating U.S. company that I have ever
encountered, spanning more than two hundred years. The Reade family industrial business
was originally established in Wolver Hampton, England in 1773. In 1881, the business
relocated to North America.
Its most recent form, Reade Advanced Materials, was established in 1983 by Mr. Charles
Reade, Jr., to manufacture, process, and globally distribute high technology metals and
other materials.
Over its long and proud history, Reade has established an impressive record of
excellence. During World War II it received two U.S. Army/Navy "E" Awards for
production excellence. More recently in 1999 Reade was the recipient of the NASA
"Commitment to Excellence" Award.
Mr. Reade, in addition to managing the worldwide operations of Reade Advanced Materials
is very active in community service. He serves as a Eucharistic Minister of the Episcopal
Church and helps out at a local soup kitchen and serves on the boards of the YMCA, Boy
Scouts of America, Providence Preservation Society and the Salvation Army.
The Reade company is also a U.S. Small Business Administration selected "Mentor
Partner" for high technology minority businesses in America, sharing valuable
business expertise to enhance the competitiveness of minority businesses. For many
generations, Reade International has made a commitment to community programs that focus
company resources in areas where Reade can make a meaningful impact.
In his "spare time", I am not sure he has any, Mr. Reade competes in single
scull 500-meter races, training in his 32-ft scull every weekday morning.
Reade International is an excellent example of an American Company that is aggressively
pursuing international expansion and has become a small business "success story"
with export sales increasing by 50% in this fiscal year. It recently launched an
e-marketing campaign featuring its own monthly specialty chemical newsletter
"e-Zine," published in Portuguese, Spanish and English.
I am delighted to recognize Reade International as an active participant in overseas
trade events sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Actually, the idea to open this
Latin America sales office in Panama was the result of Mr. Reade's involvement in a
Commerce mission to Mexico. So, we at the Embassy think of Reade as an old friend.
Building on its success here in Panama I understand that Reade International will soon
be participating in a Commerce Department trade exhibition to be held in Brazil.
With the launch of this hemisphere-wide sales and distribution office, buyers
throughout Latin American will, for the first time, have access, in their own language, to
Reade International's specialized materials. As Reade grows, jobs and economic activity
will be created here in Panama, making a significant contribution to this country's
economic development.
I can think of no location better suited to host this company than Panama, the natural
meeting point and crossroad of trade for the Americas.
I congratulate Mr. Charles Reade, his wife Emily and the worldwide employees of Reade
Advanced Materials on the opening of their Latin America Sales Office and wish them
"good luck and good business" in their "fourth century" of business
excellence.
Thank you.
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