Gov. John Hickenlooper will travel abroad for two weeks on a trade mission starting this week. (Lewis Geyer/Times-Call)
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper leaves this week a two-week trip to Japan, China, Turkey and Israel as part of . The countries are top economic development targets for the state, Hickenlooper administration officials.
Here’s the five things to know about the trip, which starts Wednesday.
1. Hickenlooper to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuOn the final leg of the trip, Hickenlooper will meet with Netanyahu “to promote Colorado as a growing global business hub,” according to state economic development officials.
But the meeting comes at a crucial moment, given the nuclear deal with Iran negotiated by President Barack Obama’s administration. Israel is sounding the alarm about the deal — but Hickenlooper appears to support it, putting him with prominent Democrats and .
“The governor has stated that the U.S. will never abandon Israel,” Hickenlooper spokeswoman Kathy Green told The Denver Post on Tuesday. “While this deal may not be perfect, the goal now is to see it implemented properly, and insist on Iranian compliance. We now, more than ever, need to support Israel’s security and concentrate on strengthening the relationship with one of our strongest allies.”
If Hickenlooper weren’t adamant that he wasn’t running for , , then it would surely fuel speculation that he’s burnishing his international credentials.
2. What will it cost the state?The state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade says the government tab is approximately $50,000. It covers travel for nine state officials — only five of which will make the entire trip. The cost estimate doesn’t include travel expenses for six Colorado State University officials, three University of Colorado leaders and two City of Aurora designees.
The four state officials, in addition to the governor, attending the entire trip are: Hickenlooper Chief of Staff Doug Friednash; OEDIT Executive Director Fiona Arnold; OEDIT Deputy Director Michelle Hadwiger; Mike Driver, the director of international marketing in the Colorado Tourism Office; and Sandi Moilanen, the state’s international trade director.
The 52 delegates on the trip include a who’s-who list of big industry, including state contractors and major corporations that lobby the statehouse. Each paid $2,000 to attend. See a full list of attendees at the end.
3. It comes at a pretty important time.The two-week trip’s timing isn’t ideal. Hickenlooper’s office is deep in the budgeting writing process – facing in the next year — and must deliver its state spending plan two weeks after he returns Oct. 20.
It also comes as ballots hit mailboxes with a statewide ballot initiative on the $66.1 million in marijuana tax money caught in a TABOR trap. advocates are relying almost entirely on supporters like Hickenlooper to spread the message.
4. The state’s ties to China and Japan
As my colleague Tamara Chuang : Colorado companies sold $658 million in exports to China last year, with optical and medical devices as the top exports. Chinese investors were the state’s 14th-largest group of investors. Most investments were in the energy sector. In Japan, where 48 percent of Colorado products imported to the country are beef and pork, Hickenlooper will focus on technology, oil and energy companies.
“The goal of this trip is to open the doors even wider, to take advantage of relationships we already have,” said Fiona Arnold, state’s economic development chief.
5. The trip’s significance
Hickenlooper traveled to Japan as Denver mayor, as well as Canada, Mexico and as governor, but has never visited China, state officials said. Itap his first visit to Turkey and second to Israel. (His first trip to Israel was in 2013.) Hickenlooper’s predecessor, Gov. Bill Ritter, visited Japan and China in 2008. He also visited Israel in 2009.
