Lt. Gov. Taking on Larger Role as Vermont’s International Emissary

Burlington, Vt.- Lt. Governor Brian Dubie today announced the details of a Peace & Trade Mission to Asia scheduled for next week. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce organized the mission on behalf of Vermont employers and state government. The Chamber has been promoting Vermont companies in Asia since 1993.

Lieutenant Governor Dubie said the goals of the mission include increasing business in Asia for Vermont companies-specifically in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan-and cultivating political networks to strengthen relationships and promote positive international dialogues with the host countries.

Lt. Governor Dubie also asked a representative from the Vermont Peace Academy to join him on the mission. “International relationships have never been more important than they are today,” Dubie said. “I feel strongly that we need healthy dialogues to promote peace as well as commerce.”

This is the second international mission assigned to the Lt. Governor. Earlier in the year, Governor Jim Douglas asked Dubie to lay the groundwork for an important trade mission to Canada scheduled for early December. Governor Douglas said he was grateful for Dubie’s leadership in this area. “Lt. Governor Dubie has done a remarkable job improving our relations with Canada,” Douglas said. “That is why I asked him to serve as our liaison on this important mission to Asia.”

Trade missions are important economic development tools for Vermont. “Vermont exports $325 million in products to Taiwan, $37 million to Hong Kong and $21 million to China,” Lt. Governor Dubie said. “In total, Asia represents Vermont’s second largest trading partner, Canada is our largest.” Vermont exports to Canada are near $1 billion annually.

The delegation representing Vermont is made up of state officials, including the Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce Kevin Dorn, as well as representatives of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Commerce and several Vermont companies that currently do business in, or would like to expand into, Asian markets.

According the Lt. Governor, the delegation will also promote the success that Vermont has had in Asian markets and pitch environmental and wireless technologies, Vermont’s highly skilled workforce and Vermont specialty food products to their hosts.
xxxx