Governor Gregoire to Promote Washington Products in Australia and New Zealand

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2006

Governor and delegation of agriculture, business, education and life sciences leaders depart Thursday

SEATTLE � Governor Chris Gregoire departs Thursday, May 4, to Sydney, Australia on a trip to promote Washington products and services in Australia and New Zealand. Governor Gregoire will lead a delegation of business, agricultural, education and life sciences leaders in a visit designed to help Washington keep its competitive global edge.

�As the most trade dependent state in the nation, we must remain competitive in the global marketplace and face-to-face meetings are an important part of establishing key business relationships,� said Governor Gregoire. �Australia and New Zealand are already key trading partners. There is potential to expand our business with these countries even more.�

Governor Gregoire in Brisbane will visit Boeing�s Australia offices. She will also sign with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie a formal memorandum of understanding on biotechnology collaboration and be introduced to Parliament before she travels to Melbourne, where she will meet with representatives from Qantas Airways at the request of Boeing executives.

New Zealand is an emerging trading partner for Washington with demonstrated growth potential in several target industries. In 2005, the country ranked 21st out of Washington�s top 50 export countries, with more than $335 million in exports (source: WISER).

Governor Gregoire in Auckland will meet with Prime Minister Helen Clark and Trade Minister Phil Goff before joining a timber industry meeting with key officials.

Previous missions to Asia and Europe led by Governor Gregoire have resulted in millions of dollars in sales for Washington businesses and farmers and prompted a visit from China�s President Hu Jintao, in which he announced the purchase of 80 Boeing planes and $1.2 billion in Microsoft software.


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