Washington, DC--Vermont Lt. Governor Brian Dubie was a keynote speaker at today’s Council on Competitiveness’ Global Advisory Committee in Washington D.C. He addressed the critical importance of exports and an export friendly-national policy framework for Vermont as well as for other states.

Lt. Governor Dubie illustrated his points with first-hand lessons and impressions acquired on his recent trade mission to China and Taiwan. The mission was specifically aimed at boosting job opportunities for Vermonters by increasing business in Asia for Vermont companies, and trade and investment between Vermont and Asia.

“The need for Asia and the rest of the world to respect of the intellectual property rights of Vermont’s employers and innovators is critical to our survival as a state,” Dubie stressed. He called for broadened market opportunities for Vermont companies such as Green Mountain Roasters, which is currently in talks with a 150-outlet chain of coffee shops based in Taiwan and China.

Lt. Governor Dubie also described his vision for creating an environmental technology cluster among the northern New England states and Canada -- a “Green Valley” to mirror California’s Silicon Valley.

Vermont has already developed advanced environmental technologies that hold significant promise for business development, productivity levels and regional economic growth. Lt. Governor Dubie related his experience assisting Clean Earth Technology of North Ferrisburg and the Clean Earth Consortium to expand their existing presence in the region as sellers of environmental engineering services. He has also spearheaded the state’s renewed efforts to enhance trade relations and improve diplomatic relations with the province of Quebec.

The Council on Competitiveness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose members are corporate chief executives, university presidents, and labor leaders dedicated to setting an action agenda to drive U.S. economic competitiveness and leadership in global markets. The Council helps shape the national debate on competitiveness by concentrating on a few critical issues -- including national and regional innovation, competitiveness and security, globalization, workforce development, and the benchmarking of U.S. economic performance against other countries.

The Council’s Global Advisory Committee is a “brain trust” of national leaders in areas such as technology, trade, finance, education, and economic development, who identify emerging issues and make policy recommendations in globalization. The need to address the opportunities and challenges presented by China is among the committee’s priorities.

Ambassador Ira Shapiro, former General Counsel and Chief U.S. trade negotiator with Japan and Canada for the Office of United States Trade Representative, chaired the meeting. Other speakers included Petros Sourmelis, Trade Counselor, European Union, who addressed the European View of World Trade and Investment Challenges; John DeGioia, President of Georgetown University, who outlined the plans and rationale for building strategic academic partnerships in Latin America, and Ambassador Jim Jones who gave an overview of the prospects for hemispheric trade after Cancun.

Lt. Governor Dubie also stressed the important role that states can play in promoting exports to increase jobs, and in fostering a regional approach to economic growth.