OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire will be leaving next month on a weeklong trade mission to Ireland and England.
Gregoire announced Wednesday that she would be leading a delegation of more than 40 people from aerospace, green energy and technology industries in the state.
She cited exports of Washington-made good jumping to a record $64.6 billion in 2011, and said that the state needs to “build on that success” with face-to-face meetings with companies looking to do business in the state.
“Our efforts to boost our state exports are working,” Gregoire said in a written statement announcing the trade mission.
The governor will arrive in Dublin on July 4 to tour a tidal energy manufacturing facility, and will introduce aerospace supply companies to executives at plane manufacturer Bombardier at its Belfast office to encourage the hiring of more Washington aerospace supply companies as it builds new aircraft. She will also meet with executives at Airbus at the company’s Broughton, Wales office.
Gregoire and the delegation will then travel to London, where on July 9 she will help open the Washington State Pavilion at the 2012 Farnborough Air Show. More than 50 aerospace companies and several aerospace consortiums representing more than 200 Washington aerospace businesses will be exhibiting at the air show.
Gregoire spokeswoman Karina Shagren said that no taxpayer dollars would be spent on the trade mission, because money remaining from delegate fees from prior trade missions will pay for the governor and two staffers, and grants will cover the delegation.
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