Oregon Economic Developers Say SARS is Having an Economic Impact

Here is another story that points to the impact of SARS on local economic development. The SARS scare in Asia is an unfamiliar problem for Oregon business and the state’s export-dependent economy. Trade missions to promote Oregon agricultural products are being canceled. The state’s agriculture department won’t send a trade officer to an upcoming seafood seminar in Taiwan because of the SARS outbreak, state officials said. Representatives of the Oregon grass-seed industry, which steadily has increased sales to China, have called off a trip to the nation.

Oregon officials point to these reactions and developments:

* "Companies have restricted travel to SARS hotspots, such as China, Singapore and Vietnam. For employees at Intel Oregon, only “mission critical” trips are permitted to China, a company official said.

* Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis is asking employees returning from Asia to work at home for 10 days to reduce the chance of spreading the contagion, a company spokeswoman said.

* The majority of American staff members in the commercial section of the U.S. Embassy in China are returning to the states, said Scott Goddin, director of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Assistance Center in Portland. That means that businesses will have a tougher time getting help."