Governor Jay Inslee leaves this morning for Shanghai to join a delegation of more than 100 business and education leaders traveling in China. The trade mission is promoting opportunities to grow and expand markets for Washington products and services in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, life sciences and clean tech, as well as education and cultural exchanges.
Inslee will arrive in Shanghai for events promoting Washington pears and Almond Roca and will speak at an investment recruitment event with Path America.
Inslee will be in Shanghai through Saturday, then travel to Guangzhou and then Shenzhen. The governor’s itinerary with the trade mission includes promotion of Washington’s world-class wine industry, a roundtable discussion with Chinese clean tech venture capital and investment firms, and meetings with education and government officials.
Inslee is scheduled to return to Washington state Monday evening. His departure was postponed due to a special legislative session and discussions surrounding locating the Boeing 777X in Washington.
State Commerce Director Brian Bonlender and Secretary of Agriculture Bud Hover led the first several days’ activities in Beijing. Highlights thus far include a successful investment roundtable event featuring more than 100 Washington state and Chinese business leaders and investors in clean energy technology. Bonlender reported a strong mutual commitment to working together to combat climate change and develop technologies and strategies for more clean, sustainable fuel sources.
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to China and former Washington Governor Gary Locke hosted a successful VIP meeting during the BIO Convention in China and made an outstanding case for why Washington state is a great match for China to partner on biomedical technology and research.
Wednesday, Washington Filmworks signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China's premiere production and distribution company DMG Entertainment at a film and technology reception in Beijing, China. The partnership between Washington Filmworks and DMG is designed to further international business development opportunities, support intercultural understanding, promote Washington state as a destination for Chinese motion picture production, and establish relationships with government and business entities on both sides of the Pacific.
Shoreline Community College signed an MOU with a Chinese investor who is developing student housing that will help meet the demand being driven by growing numbers of international students in our state. The financing model for this MOU is one that other community colleges hope to replicate.
“The Agricultural delegation is certainly looking forward to Governor Inslee joining the trade mission. His presence at both the Pear and Almond Roca promotional events will definitely add to the success of this trip and our efforts to expand markets for Washington farmers and businesses," said Department of Agriculture Director Bud Hover.
Follow the hashtag #GovAsiaTrade on twitter to get updates on the Governor and the delegation’s activity in China.