TRADE MISSION NOTES:

Success Stories

Governor Chris Gregoire

09/21/10

What a week! After traveling throughout China, we’re settling into Vietnam where we continue to open new doors and opportunities in our effort to create new jobs at home. The meetings we’ve had and the promotional events we’ve conducted are proof that there’s demand for Washington products – which is great news! In fact, at a market in Shanghai, Washington grown cherries were selling for $45 a pound! We’ve met with leaders in every sector imaginable – from clean energy to life sciences, from aerospace to agriculture. We’ve met with premiers, investors and your every-day citizens – telling Washington’s story, sharing our products and creating excitement about what our businesses have to offer. I told the team last night – we couldn’t ask for more success.

Some of the success stories so far – the American Enterprise Center in Shanghai pledged to invest in and assist two Washington biomedical companies, Goespize and Iverson Genetics, to enter and succeed in the rapidly growing Chinese market. The center also told me it’s looking to invest in possibly hundreds of Washington companies over the next five years. I’ve witnessed the signings of several agreements to develop new educational programs that encourage foreign students to study in Washington state – who will share their knowledge with our students at home, as well as support our local businesses. And our promotional events couldn’t have gone any better – even the Ambassador to Vietnam helped us pass out Washington grown potato products at a local KFC!