Doyle maps out trade trips around world

Gov. Jim Doyle has preliminary plans to talk trade in the United Arab Emirates, Scandinavia and possibly South Africa and Israel.

A March memo from Doyle's commerce secretary at the time, Jack Fischer, outlines the governor's desire to take two major trade missions and a few "mini-missions" each year.

Doyle gave general approval to trips to the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and Finland, although no firm plans have been made.

State exports to the countries the governor has targeted have grown substantial in recent years. Commerce Department records show exports to the United Arab Emirates nearly quadrupled from 2003 to 2007, from $54 million to $205 million.