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Governor Gregoire
Governor Gregoire's European
adventure
By
John McCartney
Published June 2005
This
summer, from June 11 through
June 17, Governor Christine
Gregoire plans to visit Paris,
Mainz, Frankfurt, and London
as part of a European trade
mission. Recently, the
European Weekly got a chance
to talk to Governor Gregoire
about this mission, and about
her concerns with Washington's
relationship to Europe.
"We think our ties to those
three countries are very
important for Washington's
future," Gregoire said.
Washington State's exports to
France, Germany, and the UK
alone total about three
billion dollars a year. The
trade mission is intended to
focus on exports, imports,
tourism, and cultural exchange
— the most important aspects
of any American State's
relationship with European
countries. Though Washington
is not on the Atlantic coast,
it still retains a strong
relationship with countries on
the other side of the ocean.
"We think we're really
unique," Gregoire said. "We're
equidistant from Asia and from
Europe. We think we're in a
perfect location to have our
state export to either
continent ... some of our
richest and highest value
trade is with Europe."
Washington is the base of a
number of companies which have
significant worldwide ties;
Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks,
and Amazon.com all have a
worldwide presence which is
important to Washington State,
and maintaining this kind of
healthy presence in Europe is
a concern for Gregoire during
her mission.
We asked the governor why
European countries should
necessarily invest in
Washington — what exactly does
Washington have to offer the
international community?
Gregoire focuses on our
growing and dramatically
diversifying economy.
"We're a bargain today,"
Gregoire told the European
Weekly. "We think we have a
lot to offer, but
coincidentally at this point
in time all we offer is quite
a bargain because of the
strength of the Euro compared
to the American dollar right
now."
One industry in particular is
deeply tied to Washington's
economy, and that is the
aerospace industry.
"Of course, we're going to the
Paris Air Show because the
aerospace industry will have a
major presence," Gregoire
said. "We want to be a part of
the international aerospace
industry, ourselves the home
of Boeing."
In recent months, the question
of the aerospace industry in
Washington has come up in
regards to Airbus. Rumors and
ideas have been circulating
regarding the possibly
impending local presence of
Airbus here in Washington —
raising concerns about
Boeing's security here.
Gregoire, however, aims to put
these fears at rest.
"Airbus was looking to have a
base in the US," Gregoire
said. "Three of our cities
here indicated that they would
like to be a part of that
consideration. They were not
on the final list of the three
States that were chosen by
Airbus."
Regardless, Washington isn't
interested in neglecting any
possible aerospace
relationship with Airbus.
There are aerospace suppliers
in Washington which supply
both Boeing and Airbus, as the
aerospace industry as a whole
is a major part of the
Washington economy.
"Whether it's supplying Boeing
or supplying Airbus, we see
that as a part of our future,"
Gregoire stated.
Tourism is also quite
important to Gregoire —
France, Germany, and the UK
rank in the top six countries
with overseas visitors to
Washington State, and the
tourism industry rakes in over
11 billion dollars annually
across all markets.
"In 2002, we had about 80,000
visitors," Gregoire told the
European Weekly. "Overall
that's an important part of
our economy. We think our ties
to those three countries are
very important for
Washington's future."
Visitors from the UK rank
second highest in Washington
tourism. UK visitors are only
surpassed by Japanese
visitors, which may have to do
with a certain cultural
attraction here in Seattle.
"We think the Japanese tourism
has to do with a significant
baseball player we have —
Ichiro," Gregoire said. "I
mean, I'm just being honest
with you."
Gregoire is particularly
interested in retired tourists
— such visitors are able to
stay longer, spend more money,
and offer a fuller cultural
exchange. Washington now has a
tourism office in France, and
hopes to get the word out to
Europe about the value of
tourism in Washington.
"My message will be to all
three countries that we would
like to enhance tourism going
both ways," Gregoire said.
Just over a year ago, several
Eastern European countries
joined the European Union, and
since then there's been an
international boom regarding
these countries. While
Washington's focus remains on
historic trade relationships
with Western European
countries, there is hope for
building a strong relationship
with these new EU member
states.
"We're trying to make sure
that we have a cultural
exchange as the foundation for
a trade relationship,"
Gregoire said. "As we open up
new trading relationships, we
think we ought to have a
foundation of cultural
exchange and friendship first,
and that's how we're looking
at it philosophically."
In general, trade missions are
aimed to foster existing or
establish new friendships.
“That way we can see ourselves
through tough times,” Gregoire
explained. “Global
partnerships are the future.”
And something else is of
importance to her: “Our States
shouldn’t compete with each
other but join together,”
Gregoire said.
The governor has visited both
Paris and Frankfurt
recreationally, with an
appreciation for the history
and art of both France and
Germany. However, she has not
yet found an opportunity to
visit London, and is looking
forward to the experience.
"Both my daughters have, my
husband has been there
considerable times," Gregoire
said. "I just have never
gotten a chance to go there.
In fact, I'm taking two extra
days at the end of the trip
just to make sure I get a
chance to take it in a little
bit more."
Martina Law contributed to
this report
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