Governor to Lead Trade Mission to Canada

None by KCPW

'Bio-Trade' is Focus of Next Week's Trip

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. next week will personally lead his administration's first trade mission to Canada. Miguel Rovira, Director of Latin America & Canada for the Governor's International Trade Office, says the bio-trade mission is a collaborative effort between Utah and the Canadian government:

"The purpose is for Utah companies to develop and foster relationships with Toronto life science companies. We have about eight companies that are traveling with us and we set up some match-making meetings for them."

Toronto is the epicenter of life sciences development in Canada, says Rovira. The Canadian government has launched an effort similar to U-STAR, the Utah Science Technology and Research economic development initiative which lawmakers funded to the tune of $69 million in 2006. Rovira says USTAR will seek to make connections with counterparts in Canada:

"We're bringing Ted McAleer, who is the executive director of USTAR, because there is a similar program that has been developed in Toronto. We hope to engage in conversations and some comparisons, perhaps some benchmarking, between our program and their program."

The Utah trade mission to Canada leaves Monday, while another is planned to Mexico in a few months. Rovira says companies interested in that trip should call him at (801) 538-8885.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW