China Rolls Out Red Carpet For Utah Delegation

Pete CodellaNews

Government officials and local business leaders from the State of Utah, left today for a business trade mission to China visiting the cities of Chengdu and Xi’an.

The main focus of the mission will be centered on helping the Utah companies find potential business partners in China, presenting to local investors on why Utah is the right place for strategic investment and collaboration, and displaying the rich beauty of Utah, which is a big draw for Chinese tourists.

“We understand that business relationships must be bi-lateral to have any sort of permanence,” Brett Heimburger, regional director, GOED said. “This mission shows our commitment to expand that relationship with China even further.”

The Utah delegation will be comprised of business leaders from Utah companies such as: Chums, Ferox, MRI, ICON Fitness, Racers Edge, Stoel Rives, U.S. Translation Company and the center for High School Global Alliances and Selnate International School. Also attending the trade mission will be representatives from the Utah legislature, Provo City government and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).

Utah has strong ties to China, nearly one third of all students in the USA learning Chinese are doing so in Utah, which is more than any other state in America. Utah’s former Governor, Jon Huntsman Jr., was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to China in 2009. This trade mission will help to continue building the China-Utah relationship.

China has a rapidly growing middle class, and international tourism is thriving. Utah’s five National Parks collectively receive more tourist visits than any other single National Park in America. All of the parks: Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Arches, can all be easily accessed from Salt Lake International Airport and visited during the course of a week. As the Chinese tourist market is directed to Utah’s national parks, we will see a large increase of tourism revenue in the state.

“A large number of Chinese tourists choose to come to Utah each year thanks to the five National Parks which are located in Utah,” Patricia Denny, Manager in the Utah Office of Tourism said.

Collaboration and partnership is a hallmark of the way business in conducted in Utah. Utah has been ranked by Forbes for three years in a row as the, “Best State for Business and Careers.” This recognition is the result of the many domestic and international companies that choose to set up, relocate, and expand in Utah.