Gov. Gregoire to lead nearly 80 on September trade mission to Asia

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she will be leading a delegation of nearly 80 business, agriculture and education leaders to China and Vietnam to help expand our state’s export markets, encourage investment in Washington state and promote Washington’s higher education system.

OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she will be leading a delegation of nearly 80 business, agriculture and education leaders to China and Vietnam to help expand our state's export markets, encourage investment in Washington state and promote Washington's higher education system.

"The fact that so many private businesses and companies are willing to join me on this trip signifies its importance," Gregoire said. "They know - as do I - the value of meeting face to face with key leaders in Asia to help sell our state as the best place to do business. This trip will provide immeasurable global exposure, and I'm confident will lead to greater exports for the state of Washington, which will in turn create new jobs."

Gregoire and the delegation, which also includes Department of Commerce Director Rogers Weed and Department of Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse, will leave Seattle on September 13th, and spend 11 days meeting with industry leaders in agriculture, aerospace, clean energy and education, promoting Washington products. The delegation will also share the advantages of doing business in our state at the Shanghai World Expo.

"China and Vietnam are weathering the global recession fairly well," Gregoire said. "In fact, last year more capital investment was made in Asia than in the U.S. and Europe combined. This is our opportunity to take advantage of Asia's growth, and open new export opportunities to help our Washington businesses expand and our economy recover. In addition, this trip will be a key marketing opportunity to attract more tourists to our state, and continue to sell Washington as a leader in higher education and research."

This is Gregoire's second trade mission to China. In 2005, Gregoire led a similar delegation to China and Japan, which resulted in more than $1 million in immediate new sales to customers in Japan and $6 million in new contracts with companies in China. The new business gained in 2005 was expected to bring $23 million in new sales for Washington companies in subsequent years.

"As someone who has participated in governor's trade missions to Mexico and China in the past, I've seen firsthand the benefits of government-to-government relationships," said Andy Brassington, president of Vintners Global Resource. "In China, much more than in the U.S., businesses need that formal introduction facilitated by a governor's mission."

"Export trade missions have proven to be an excellent medium for accessing new markets and potential trading partners for the Washington State sweet cherry producers," said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission. "We joined Governor Gregoire on her mission to China in 2005. At the time, growers did not ship cherries directly to China. Within the next year, several Chinese importer contacts that were made on the 2005 mission took the risk of importing cherries directly to Shanghai."

"In the past, these missions created new business and new jobs in Washington state," Gregoire said. "I am confident this year's trip will be equally, if not more, successful than past trade missions."

Gregoire has kicked-off an online journal that includes travel notes from the governor and the rest of the delegation as well as the itinerary. The site will also contain pictures from the trade mission. Gregoire is encouraging Washingtonians to follow along by following the link on her homepage: www.governor.wa.gov.