Gov. Gregoire highlights Washington�s export market, trade opportunities

For Immediate Release: October 23, 2008

TACOMA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today pledged to continue her efforts to strengthen Washington�s export market while speaking at the 4th Annual World Trade Center-Tacoma International Trade luncheon.

�Can you imagine what it would be like if Washington didn�t have the tremendous economic engine of international trade?� Gregoire asked. �I can. That is why I�ll continue to embrace global trade rather than fight it. And that is why I�ll keep working across the aisle, across the state and across the oceans to promote Washington goods.�

Since 2004, Washington exports have doubled, reaching a record $67 billion last year. Washington now exports more on a per-capita basis than any other state. One in three Washington jobs is directly or indirectly related to international trade.

�Our dependence on trade is the reason I have led five trade missions to 10 countries since I took office. That�s not counting my annual trips to Canada,� Gregoire said. �All of these have paid off.�

Since taking office, Gregoire has met with and hosted many heads of state, including the presidents of China, South Korea and Mexico, and the prime ministers of New Zealand and South Korea. Gregoire�s trade missions have successfully promoted Washington agriculture, helped eliminate trade barriers and led to the development of new direct commercial flights from Seattle to Asia, Europe and Mexico.

Gregoire�s trade missions are integral to her �Next Washington� plan, which lays out strategies to encourage business development and growth. �Next Washington� also led to the development of the container ports initiative, a plan to make crucial investments in the state�s infrastructure so that goods and products can be delivered to markets in a timely fashion.

During the luncheon, several businesses that rely on Washington�s strong import and export market were recognized, including BabyLegs, a Seattle-area company that produces legwarmers for infants. BabyLegs now has customers in more than 50 countries.

�We are pleased to be recognized by the governor and highlighted along with such an influential group of local businesses,� said Samantha Wattson of BabyLegs. �BabyLegs has had great success as a mom-owned business that started in West Seattle, and we�re proud to see Washington state become such a leader in international trade.�

At the luncheon, Gregoire applauded the Port of Tacoma�s plan to build a $300 million terminal on the Blair Waterway, which would create 3,200 living-wage jobs. Gregoire also highlighted the Puyallup Tribe for using a portion of the tribe�s land claims settlement allotment to develop an additional terminal on the Blair Waterway. That project is expected to create more than 2,500 jobs. Both terminals should be completed by 2012.

Following the luncheon, Gregoire attended the Tacoma 8 Rotary meeting at the Landmark Convention Center. Gregoire discussed economic development in Pierce County, and how she plans to lead the state through the current national economic slowdown.