Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 27, 2002
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019
Omar Haffar, PhD., International Therapeutics, Inc., 206-329-3432
Locke led a 65-member delegation to both countries July 20-27. Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), and Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, also accompanied the governor.
The delegation represented the state’s agriculture, high-tech and biotechnology industries, as well as tourism and education. Members held high-level meetings with top government, business and agricultural leaders, including South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.
“Our state’s products - from fresh Washington cherries to processed potatoes to our award-winning wines - are already prominent in both countries,” Locke said. “The goal of this mission was to let Japan and South Korea know that we have much more to offer, particularly in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology and tourism. Our mission accomplished this goal, which will ultimately result in jobs for Washington workers.”
CTED hosted business investment seminars in each city, which helped increase awareness of Washington’s business opportunities. Locke and delegates had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Japanese and Korean CEOs, executives and investors.
“If you look at this trade mission in terms of our original objective, which was to promote foreign investment in Washington and two-way trade and tourism, it was a tremendous success,” Choe said. “This mission helped establish relationships with many companies that have significant growth and expansion potential.”
In Seoul, South Korea, more than 80 business leaders attended seminars about investing in Washington; 110 participated in Kobe, Japan; and 75 attended in Tokyo. A mix of industries was represented, including biotechnology, biomedicine, high-tech, electronics, and industrial machinery/equipment.
“This mission definitely opened doors for us,” said delegation member Omar Haffar, PhD., chief scientific officer and vice president of research and development for Seattle-based International Therapeutics, Inc. “It put us in touch with the right people at the right time, positioning Washington on the cutting edge of biotechnology.”
Tourist visits to Washington from Japan are up, due in part to the popularity of the Seattle Mariners, particularly Ichiro Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shigetoshi Hasegawa. The state, in partnership with the Port of Seattle and Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, also recently established a marketing presence in Tokyo.
To create even more interest in travel to Washington, Locke and Choe made presentations at tourism seminars in Seoul and Tokyo, telling leading tour operators, travel agents and government officials about the state’s natural beauty and wide range of cultural and recreational activities. In Tokyo, attendees included the chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents and the chairman and publisher of Travel Journal Incorporated.
Loveland led a series of successful meetings with Japan and Korea’s top agricultural leaders on such issues as expanding markets for Washington potatoes and other agricultural products. “This mission gave folks in our industry a chance to discuss pressing issues and work toward exporting more Washington products to both countries.”
Locke said the mission was successful in building key relationships. “We had productive talks, great attendance and very positive feedback, both from our delegation and from the Japanese and Korean businesses that are looking to expand to our state and invest in our companies.
“I believe this will ultimately result in more opportunities for Washington businesses and more jobs for citizens across the state.”
Related Links:
- 2002 International Trade Mission to Asia
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Washingto State Office of Trade and Economic Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 27, 2002
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019
Omar Haffar, PhD., International Therapeutics, Inc., 206-329-3432
Gov. Locke declares Asia trade mission a success; businesses on mission already report increased sales
OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke returned today from a trade mission to Japan and South Korea, declaring it a huge success for Washington state. Eleven of the 35 companies that participated in the mission are already reporting an expected $400,000 in new sales and millions more in potential sales over the next 12 months.Locke led a 65-member delegation to both countries July 20-27. Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), and Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, also accompanied the governor.
The delegation represented the state’s agriculture, high-tech and biotechnology industries, as well as tourism and education. Members held high-level meetings with top government, business and agricultural leaders, including South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.
“Our state’s products - from fresh Washington cherries to processed potatoes to our award-winning wines - are already prominent in both countries,” Locke said. “The goal of this mission was to let Japan and South Korea know that we have much more to offer, particularly in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology and tourism. Our mission accomplished this goal, which will ultimately result in jobs for Washington workers.”
CTED hosted business investment seminars in each city, which helped increase awareness of Washington’s business opportunities. Locke and delegates had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Japanese and Korean CEOs, executives and investors.
“If you look at this trade mission in terms of our original objective, which was to promote foreign investment in Washington and two-way trade and tourism, it was a tremendous success,” Choe said. “This mission helped establish relationships with many companies that have significant growth and expansion potential.”
In Seoul, South Korea, more than 80 business leaders attended seminars about investing in Washington; 110 participated in Kobe, Japan; and 75 attended in Tokyo. A mix of industries was represented, including biotechnology, biomedicine, high-tech, electronics, and industrial machinery/equipment.
“This mission definitely opened doors for us,” said delegation member Omar Haffar, PhD., chief scientific officer and vice president of research and development for Seattle-based International Therapeutics, Inc. “It put us in touch with the right people at the right time, positioning Washington on the cutting edge of biotechnology.”
Tourist visits to Washington from Japan are up, due in part to the popularity of the Seattle Mariners, particularly Ichiro Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shigetoshi Hasegawa. The state, in partnership with the Port of Seattle and Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, also recently established a marketing presence in Tokyo.
To create even more interest in travel to Washington, Locke and Choe made presentations at tourism seminars in Seoul and Tokyo, telling leading tour operators, travel agents and government officials about the state’s natural beauty and wide range of cultural and recreational activities. In Tokyo, attendees included the chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents and the chairman and publisher of Travel Journal Incorporated.
Loveland led a series of successful meetings with Japan and Korea’s top agricultural leaders on such issues as expanding markets for Washington potatoes and other agricultural products. “This mission gave folks in our industry a chance to discuss pressing issues and work toward exporting more Washington products to both countries.”
Locke said the mission was successful in building key relationships. “We had productive talks, great attendance and very positive feedback, both from our delegation and from the Japanese and Korean businesses that are looking to expand to our state and invest in our companies.
“I believe this will ultimately result in more opportunities for Washington businesses and more jobs for citizens across the state.”
Related Links:
- 2002 International Trade Mission to Asia
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Washingto State Office of Trade and Economic Development
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