News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 24, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019

Gov. Gary Locke Promotes Washington Companies for 2008 Olympics, Hosts Vice Mayor of Beijing in Seattle

Gov. Gary Locke and Liu Jingmin, vice mayor of Beijing, China, today hosted more than 150 Washington companies at a unique seminar in Seattle designed to help businesses that want to participate in the design, construction and operation of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Liu serves as executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games. Washington is the only state he is visiting to discuss business opportunities for the 2008 Olympics.

Locke invited Liu to Washington during his visit to Beijing in December 2002, where the governor promoted Boeing airplanes, celebrated the 30th anniversary of U.S.-China trade relations and discussed Washington’s role in the 2008 Olympics.

“We’re seizing the opportunity to advance the interests of Washington companies in China,” Locke said. “And, in doing so, we’re creating more opportunities for Washington citizens here at home. We want our state’s companies to take advantage of the chance to be a part of history, while also expanding their businesses and creating jobs.”

Companies attending today’s seminar included Starbucks Coffee Company, the Seattle Supersonics and Seattle Storm, RIM Architects, and Weyerhaeuser.

Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), joined Locke and Liu at a news conference following the seminar.

Locke and Choe also further promoted the governor’s trade mission to China next month. Locke, along with Choe and Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, will lead a delegation of nearly 80 agriculture and business leaders to the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai Oct. 11-18.

The purpose of the mission is to promote two-way trade, which is vital to Washington’s economy, generating $95 billion per year overall and making Washington the fourth largest exporting state in the U.S. The mission will focus on agriculture and high technology, and will help the state continue its economic development efforts.

Meetings are planned with top Chinese government officials and corporate leaders, in addition to other trade and economic development activities. Locke will also promote sales of Boeing airplanes to Chinese airlines and urge Chinese airlines to initiate direct passenger service between China and SeaTac International Airport. The governor will also try to mitigate some of the Chinese barriers to the import of Washington potatoes.

Washington state exported $3.5 billion in products to China in 2002, making it Washington’s second largest export market (Japan is first). While the aerospace sector comprised the majority of the state’s exports in 2002 (approximately $3.1 billion), exports by other industries such as paper/wood products, food and agriculture, electronics, industrial machinery, and medical/surgical equipment are strong and have considerable growth potential. A recent CTED study ranked China as the No. 1 future export market by Washington state companies.

“We are looking forward to this trade mission and the opportunities it will provide for Washington,” Locke said. “We are also looking forward to working with Vice Mayor Liu and other Chinese officials to make the 2008 Olympics the best games ever.”

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Editor’s Note: A list of seminar attendees is available by contacting the Governor’s Communications Office at 360-902-4136.

Related links: www.governor.wa.gov; www.cted.wa.gov




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