|
|
Lt. Governor Owen leads
state
delegation to Taiwan
Lt. Governor Owen,
third from left, discusses agricultural trade issues with Dr. Lee Jen
Chyuan, deputy minister of Taiwan's Council of Agriculture during a
recent
trade meeting in
Taipei. The discussion focused on Washington apples. (Staff photo by
Antonio Sanchez).
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and a delegation of eight state legislators left
June 24 for a week-long trade and goodwill mission to Taiwan.
 |
 |
The mission will provide key legislators foreign relations and
protocol experience with one of Washington’s leading trading partners,
Owen said. The delegation will meet with Taiwanese leaders in business
and government and seek to attract new investment, tourists and students
to Washington state.
"Members will gain valuable information about the structure and process
of the Taiwanese government, their trade practice and policies and an
understanding of the people and culture of Taiwan,” the lieutenant
governor said.
According to the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic
Development, Washington exported nearly $2.5 billion in aerospace,
agricultural, wood, metal and food products to Taiwan in 2006.
Elected officials included in the delegation are Owen, state Sens. Jim
Kastama, D-Puyallup; Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla; Joe Zarelli,
R-Ridgefield; Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley; Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens;
and Reps. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger; Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle; and Rep.
Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. Other delegation members include the
lieutenant governor’s wife, Linda, and Antonio Sanchez, who oversees
economic development and international relations functions for his
office.
Also on the delegation’s itinerary is a visit to Washington state’s
trade office in the capital city of Taipei. The delegation will also
visit Taiwan’s fourth largest city, Tainan.
Stops at the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts and Tsai Hsing
High School, both in Taipei, will complete the trip on July 2.
The trip is hosted by the government of Taiwan under the coordination of
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.
|
