October 13, 2022 3:00 a.m.
On Wednesday, Governor Kate Brown announced details of Oregon’s trade mission to Asia, focused on promoting foreign investment and business expansion in the state.
The officials will travel to South Korea and Japan when the two countries fully reopen to tourism, trade and business travel. Brown will lead the mission beginning Friday and continuing through Oct. 26. She will be joined by Oregon leaders representing the agriculture, tourism, higher education, apparel, technology and manufacturing industries. Brown will also travel to Oregon’s sister state in Japan, Toyama Prefecture.
The release says that over the past five years, Oregon has ranked seventh in the US with the highest export growth, rising significantly by 37 percent. During the pandemic, Oregon was one of six states to experience positive export growth between 2019 and 2020. Nearly 6,000 Oregon companies export internationally. 83,000 jobs in the state are supported by exports. Travel and tourism in Oregon is a $10.9 billion industry that directly employs 100,000 Oregonians and generates $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Along with private sector leaders, the delegation will include representatives from Business Oregon, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Travel Oregon, the University of Oregon and the Port of Portland.
Photos and updates from the trade mission will be shared through Governor Brown’s social media channels and press releases.
