Governor Kate Brown is leading a state delegation to Asia this week to promote Oregon tourism, business, and food products.
The governor is taking her delegation to Japan, China and Vietnam on the 9-day trade mission. About 50 public and private sector leaders, including ones from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Travel Oregon, and the Port of Portland, will be on the trip. The delegation has seven business development meetings scheduled.
The agenda includes Governor Brown meeting with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy in Tokyo and attend a reception with her Tuesday evening. On Wednesday the itinerary includes a Delta Airlines luncheon to support direct flights to PDX. In Beijing there's a "Doing Business in Oregon" investment seminar. Finishing up the trip in Hanoi, Governor Brown will take part in a LGBT roundtable and appear on a cooking show to highlight Oregon food. The governor says Asian markets are worth billions of dollars to Oregon's economy.
According to the state, China is Oregon's largest export market at $4-billion annually. Japan is Oregon's single-largest foreign investor and Vietnam's growing economy provides new opportunities for food exports.