Gov. John Hickenlooper will take off Wednesday on a two-week trip to Asia and the Middle East to promote Colorado as an economic destination that welcomes expansion and foreign investors.
Details on the trip were announced Friday. Also going are 52 delegates from the state’s educational and business sectors, including executives from Noble Energy, Spire Digital and Zeppelin Development.
The delegation will visit China, Japan, Turkey and Israel. The countries were chosen by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade because of their growth potential here.
“The goal of this trip is to open the doors even wider, to take advantage of relationships we already have,” said Fiona Arnold, the office’s executive director, who will travel with the governor. “It’s not an export mission. It’s definitely all about relationships. It’s our first time in China.”
The bulk of the trip will be in Asia with four days each in China and Japan, which are Colorado’s third- and fourth-largest export markets, respectively.
According to the economic development office, Colorado companies sold $658 million in exports to China last year, with optical and medical devices as the top exports.
Chinese investors were the state’s 14th-largest group of investors. Most investments were in the energy sector.
In Japan, where 48 percent of Colorado products imported to the country are beef and pork, Hickenlooper will focus on technology, oil and energy companies. He will meet with Hitachi, Terumo, Tokyo Gas, Sumitomo and Montbell — all of which except Tokyo Gas have operations in the state.
The last leg includes two days each in Istanbul and Tel Aviv. Meetings are set with Seul Energy, a solar company in Istanbul looking to invest in the U.S., and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hickenlooper also will tour the Tel Aviv Cyber Security Lab and the Hach Wastewater Plant.
“Technology is a slightly bigger emphasis than in prior years, which is really an acknowledgment of Colorado’s leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship,” Arnold said. “Certainly Colorado is a perfect location for Israeli companies who want to scale and grow.”
Michael Gellman, founder of digital product developer Spire Digital, jumped at the chance to visit Israel and see its 6,000 startups.
“I’d like to learn what they’re doing and how they’re doing it and gain a new perspective on software innovation,” he said. “Plus, I’d like to eat a great deal of chickpea-oriented foods.”
Most of the delegates are paying their own way. The state has budgeted $50,000 for the trip. Area companies are sponsoring events, which include visits with Noble Energy in Tel Aviv and a tour of the Panasonic Innovation Center in Japan.
Hickenlooper’s past international trade missions were to Mexico and Canada, which are the state’s two largest trade partners.
Arnold said that one benefit of such trips will be in the spotlight at the upcoming National Governors Association meeting this month. It’s the first time the nation’s governors will meet with Mexican governors and Canadian premiers — and it’s in Colorado Springs.
“It might seem strange that it’s happening in Colorado, but the governor’s focus is on north and south, which are our most important trade partners,” Arnold said.
Tamara Chuang: tchuang@denverpost.com
