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Allen going to Japan on business
Trips' purpose is to promote Va. product
By BOB GIBSON 5/10/96
Daily Progress Staff Writers
Gov. George F. Allen, his wife, Susan, a group of about 20 Virginia business people and several top state officials leave today for a 14 day trade. mission to Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.
Earlysville investment banker and commerce professor Edwin T. Burton and Waynesboro logging exporter Mitchell O. Carr are among the business leaders accompanying the Allens to Japan, the governor's office said Thursday.
Burton, one of Allen's appointees to the Virginia Retirement System board, said he and other businessmen plan to meet with Japanese business leaders to promote exports of Virginia products.
"The Far East is a crucial economic development market for the commonwealth," said Melissa Dickie, an Allen spokeswoman. "Japan is Virginia's second largest export market and Japan is the third largest source of foreign investment in Virginia."
Susan Allen will focus on tourism opportunities with her own itinerary on the trip add will assist the governor as he tries to woo more trade.
The trips is Allen's third foreign trade mission of his administration. He credits his 1994 NAFTA related trip to Canada and Mexico with bringing the state $30 million in business and his 1996 European tour with spurring $43 million in contracts.
Burton, Carr and the other business representatives are paying their own way to make the trip, Dickie said. She said the trade mission's goals are to encourage more investment in Virginia, boost international air service, market the state as a tourist destination and improve export opportunities.
Allen plans to spend almost A week in Tokyo, four days in Hong Kong and four days in Seoul, South Korea, before returning to Richmond on May 24.
The Allens participated in several events in Southern California before today's departure for Tokyo. Susan Allen was host of a breakfast meeting in Los Angeles with women film makers Thursday and a tourism luncheon for tour operators.
The governor was scheduled to speak Thursday night at a Biltmore Hotel event for Whittier College, where his late father once coached football.