CALIFORNIA HOUSE OPENING IN LONDON

LONDON -- Ribbon-cutting is scheduled Oct. 20 for California House, a joint effort of the University of California and California Trade and Commerce Agency aimed at strengthening academic and commercial ties with the United Kingdom.

California House will serve as headquarters for an expanded University of California Education Abroad Program, University of California Press and other university programs and activities in Europe, including outreach to the university's nearly 5,000 alumni in Britain and other parts of Europe.

The London office is also intended to help California and British companies support research and form strategic global partnerships that will increase bilateral trade and investment.

"This ambitious effort will create new opportunities for increasing
educational and trade connections between California, Britain and the rest of Europe," said University of California President Richard C. Atkinson. "We look forward to the many mutual benefits California House will create."

Since 1989, the state of California has staffed a foreign trade office in London. The office assists California companies to promote goods and services in the U.K. and Europe as well as to attract equity and foreign direct investment in California. Each year, the California Trade and Commerce Agency organizes the California Information Technology Partnering and Matchmaking Conference (Cal-IT) in London. It also maintains a trade office in Frankfurt, Germany.

The University of California's Education Abroad Program and UC Press have had offices in London for more than 35 years.

"UC's study abroad program is the largest of its kind in the world; we currently have student exchanges with 19 universities in the U.K.," said Donald W. Crawford, director of the UC EAP office in London. "We're excited to be an integral part of the California House project of creating more linkages between education, research, UC alumni and California commerce."

California and British companies will be able to use the facility for
meetings, receptions, luncheons and briefings. California House will also maintain a library with information about the UC Education Abroad Program, teaching, research and public service activities of the university, along with information on the California economy, tourism in the Golden State and trade and investment opportunities. California House is located at 8 St. James's Place in London.

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