Gov. Gregoire arrives in Spain, kicks off 8-day trade mission

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2011

Gov. Chris Gregoire today arrived in Madrid, Spain, kicking off an eight-day trade mission to promote Washington products and companies, increase foreign investment and highlight our state�s education institutions and training programs to create new jobs in Washington state.

�This trade mission is about Washington�s economic recovery,� Gregoire said. �It�s about selling Washington state and its products, and increasing our exports to ensure job growth in areas like aerospace, life-sciences, automotive production and green energy. And it�s about working with our counterparts in other nations to promote our world-class education system and worker training opportunities.�

Gregoire met with executives of Dragados, the parent company of the contractor selected to build the SR-99 bored tunnel. Gregoire also toured the tunnel under Madrid�s M-30 freeway, recently completed by Dragados.

�Washington�s economy relies on a smooth flow of commerce,� Gregoire said. �If movement of our exports slows down � so does our economic recovery. That�s why it�s critical that the SR-99 bored tunnel is completed with no interruption. I wanted to see first-hand the successful project Dragados recently completed in Madrid, and be reassured that the company has no doubt it will finish the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement on time and on budget. Our economy and thousands of jobs depend on that.�

Gregoire also met with executives at Enerfin, a world-leading electric company that is a key player in renewable energy development, and tomorrow will meet with Iberdrola, a company that operates wind farm facilities in Washington state. Gregoire scheduled the meetings to express her commitment to renewable energy projects and present the benefits of locating and expanding in Washington state.

In addition to closer economic ties with multiple companies, the trade mission�s first day also resulted in a broader educational partnership between Madrid and Washington state. Madrid Governor Esperanza Aguirre met with University of Washington Dean Ana Mari Cauce and signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the development of a Spanish-English bilingual program in Madrid high schools. The agreement provides teaching opportunities for 260 UW students wishing to teach English in Spain.

�Agreements like this are a two-fold win for Washington state,� Gregoire said. �They provide a wonderful work experience for our new teachers � and allow them to strengthen their skills which benefit our schools when they return. And they allow students in Europe to hear about the wonderful attractions we have in Washington state, encouraging them to visit and stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop at our local stores.�

Over the weekend, Gregoire will travel to Paris to attend the annual Paris Air Show, where the state�s aerospace industry � with its 650 aerospace companies, nearly 84,000 aerospace employees and world-class training programs � will be on center stage before international aerospace companies, as well as thousands of visitors and journalists.

Visit Gregoire�s online travel journal that includes travel notes from the governor and the rest of the delegation, the itinerary and photos of the trade mission. Access the travel journal by following the link on her homepage: www.governor.wa.gov.

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