GOV. RITTER & BUSINESS LEADERS BEGIN ASIA ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT MISSION

TOKYO ― Gov. Bill Ritter today opened a Colorado economic development and trade mission to Asia, meeting in Tokyo with officials from All Nippon Airways, a Japanese vice minister for foreign affairs and U.S. trade and embassy officials.

 

"Colorado is very focused on building an economy around 21^st century, knowledge-based industries of the future," Gov. Ritter told Vice Minister Masahiko Shibayama. "We are making Colorado a regional hub for renewable energy R&D, manufacturing and production, for bioscience advancements and for technology.

 

"Our state would very much like to strengthen the relationships we already have with Japanese companies and investors and create new opportunities as well," Gov. Ritter said.

 

Officials with U.S. Commercial Services encouraged Gov. Ritter and the 40 Colorado business leaders taking part in the economic-development mission to continue cultivating existing Colorado-Japan business relations in areas such as agriculture and beef exports, while also recommending that Colorado companies consider pursuing new possibilities in Japan in fields such as environmental clean-up, information technology, medicine and construction.

 

Gov. Ritter, Denver International Airport Manager Kim Day, Colorado Economic Development Director Don Elliman and others also met today with officials from All Nippon Airways to discuss securing a daily non-stop flight from Denver to Tokyo.