Governor Leads Trade Mission to Korea and Japan

Governor Leads Trade Mission to Korea and Japan

Goal is to create more jobs, strengthen Oregon's economy, Governor says

Portland, OR—Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski kicked off an aggressive five-day trade mission to Oregon's two biggest overseas trading partners Saturday, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, seeking to sell even more Oregon-made products overseas, attract foreign investment into the state, and bolster prosperity at home by creating new jobs.

"Our mission is to encourage Korean and Japanese companies and investors to do even more business with Oregonians," the Governor told a morning press conference at Portland International Airport. "Though the Koreans and Japanese already buy Oregon's products, we will show them why they should buy even more of those products. Though they already own facilities in Oregon that provide thousands jobs for people, we will show them how they can profit by expanding those facilities or building new ones."

The 50-member Oregon trade delegation will participate in 29 meetings in five days, the Governor said. The delegation will showcase the high quality of Oregon-made products, the skills and reliability of the state's workforce, and the many advantages of doing business in Oregon.
"No one should doubt the importance of international trade to Oregon's economy," the Governor said. "And no one should make the mistake of thinking, ‘This doesn't have anything to do with me or my job.'"

Noting that one in five Oregon jobs depends on international trade, the Governor emphasized the benefits of marketing to foreign buyers and the contribution that foreign-owned businesses make to the state's economy. Last year, the state exported more that $12 billion-worth of goods and services, and the dollar-value of Oregon's international trade has never been higher. Nearly half the state's agricultural goods go overseas.

"Look around you—one out of every five working adults you see has a job that's linked directly to international trade," the Governor said.

More than 150 foreign-owned companies employ over 20,000 Oregonians, and the state consistently ranks in the top 15 exporting states, despite its comparatively small population, the Governor said. Money spent by foreign consumers and foreign-owned industries ends up in the pockets of Oregon employees, which they spend in their communities, bolstering the local economy.

"I think we can safely say every business in Oregon relies on international trade, and so does every job in Oregon," the Governor said. "That's why trade missions like this one are so important—not just to business executives, government officials and scientists and engineers. The benefits that come from strengthening trade come to all of us—no matter whether we work in an executive suite or on an assembly line, in a classroom or a cherry orchard."

Korea: agriculture, military and wildfires
During the Korean phase of the trip, the Governor and the delegation will emphasize Oregon's agricultural products and manufactured products for sale to the Republic of Korea Air Force. They will also hold discussions with the Hynix Corporation in Seoul, which manufactures semiconductors at a large facility in Eugene, employing 1,100 workers.

The Governor and his team will meet with Hanjin Shipping representatives in Seoul, to recognize the company's important container service at the Port of Portland. Following this meeting, the Governor will meet with officials of the ROK Office of Forestry to discuss sale of Oregon-made heavy-lift helicopters and services to help fight wildfires, which have plagued the ruggedly mountainous Republic of Korea in recent years.

Japan: ‘in-sourcing,' recycling, Oregon foods, TV-shopping, tourism, high-tech
On the Japanese phase of the trip, the Governor will visit the prefecture of Toyama to enhance Oregon's "Sister State-Prefecture" relationship. The delegation will meet with local officials, business people, and Japanese graduates of Oregon colleges and universities to recognize progress that has occurred through the Toyama-Oregon teacher and employee exchange programs, student exchange programs, an annual speech contest sponsored by Toyama for Oregon students, and other programs.

In Tokyo, the delegation will meet with a Japanese company to urge "in-sourcing" a back-office operation in Oregon, creating up to 150 jobs. The Governor will publicize Oregon products, services, tourist attractions and business opportunities in interviews with Chi-Chi Magazine, a widely circulated business publication, and Mainichi Shimbun, one of the largest daily newspapers in Japan.

The Governor will hold a confidential meeting with executives of a Japanese company to discuss sustainable technologies and potential investment in Oregon. He will meet with Kai Corp, which makes high-quality knives in Tualatin for global distribution under the Kershawe brand.
He will also participate in a special promotion on the Japanese QVC shopping network, which provides direct-marketing opportunities for small businesses. He will then meet with executives of the Sumitomo Corporation to promote the business advantage that Oregon offers to Japanese capital investors.

Delegation members will meet with Tokyo Kasei, which runs a US branch, Tokyo Chemical Company, one of the Port of Portland's oldest customers. The company supplies critical materials to the biotech sector, which the Governor has designated a "target Oregon cluster" of industries. The Governor will solidify Oregon's business relationship with Tokyo Kasei, and urge its leadership to expand is investments and operations in Oregon.

As part of his effort to promote Oregon-produced foods, the Governor will meet with Ajinomoto, a leader in the production of frozen meals. The company maintains an operation in the Port of Portland's Rivergate district. The Governor will urge the company to remain in Oregon and expand its operations.

He will also meet with executives of the Yamasa Corporation, a soy sauce maker in Salem. The Governor will reinforce the state's strong working relationship with the company, and urge it to retain its operations in Oregon.

The Governor will meet with the chairman of Northwest Airlines Japan operation to emphasize the economic benefits of direct flights between Oregon and Japan, and to urge the airline to expand those flights. He then meet with executives of Nike Japan to discuss the business relationships that company maintains both in Japan and Oregon.

http://www.governor.state.or.us/Gov/p2006/press_062406_a.shtml