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Ritter to push daily flight, energy hub in Asian talks

By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Gov. Bill Ritter will lead a trade mission bound for Japan and China this weekend in hopes of securing a daily nonstop flight between Tokyo and Denver and to promote Colorado as a renewable energy and biosciences research hub.

The mission follows a handful of trips in recent months by economic development and tourism officials attempting to increase Colorado's visibility in Asia - and the state's chances of being chosen by All Nippon Airways for a direct flight from Tokyo.

"We do not believe this is the time to pull back" on the efforts despite an economy in turmoil both domestically and abroad, Ritter said Monday at the state Capitol.

Roughly 40 executives and economic development officials will make the trip, which runs from Saturday to Nov. 25, and stops in Tokyo and Yamagata, Japan, as well as Beijing and Shanghai.

Don Elliman, head of Colorado's economic development and tourism office, said Colorado "has been inconsistent" over the years in its efforts to forge economic ties with the Asian trading partners.

Elliman said Colorado officials will tout the state's "new energy economy," including its recent success in attracting companies such as Denmark's Vestas, which will create about 2,500 jobs in the state.

ConocoPhillips' training facility, which will bring thousands more jobs to the area, helps bolster Denver's case that it can provide enough international business travelers to warrant a daily flight to Tokyo, said Elliman.

The trip costs about $190,000, with up to $90,000 coming from state funds. Sponsors and participants will pick up the rest.

On the agenda

Gov. Bill Ritter will lead 40 executives, economic development and research officials on trade mission to Japan, which is Colorado's fourth-biggest export market, and to China, which became the state's third-largest export market two years ago.

* Itinerary: Depart Saturday from Denver International Airport, spending three days in Tokyo and a day in Yamagata, Japan. Travel to Beijing for two days and Shanghai for two days before returning Nov. 25.

* Goals: Continue pressing for a daily nonstop flight between Tokyo and Denver served by Japan's All Nippon Airways.

Promote Colorado's renewable energy sector and biosciences and technology research facilities, as well as tourism attractions. Colorado State University will sign agreements in Japan launching the university's Center for Environmental Medicine.

* Participants: Colorado Office of Economic Development, Denver International Airport, Denver Metro Chamber, Denver Metro Economic Development Corp., NREL, Governor's Energy Office, the Collaboratory, CSU, Colorado School of Mines, Upstate Colorado Economic Development, Aurora Economic Development Council, South Metro Chamber, Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp., Cap Logistics, Executive Forum, Opus Northwest, Health One Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Saunders Construction, Jeppesen, Inviragen, Hogan & Hartson, Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons, and Shan Atira Asian Ventures.

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