Guv-led group returns from trade mission to South Korea and Taiwan

A group of Utah businesses and organizations were represented on a recent trade mission to Taiwan and South Korea. The group returned last week.

“Taiwan and South Korea are among the state’s largest export destinations. In 2017, Utah exported $636 million in goods to Taiwan and $347 million to South Korea,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “Maintaining good relationships between these countries provides expanded opportunities for Utah businesses with products such as computers, electronics, chemicals and food.”

Gov. Gary Herbert joined the group in Taiwan, skipping the visit to South Korea to remain in Utah to deal with the wildfires burning in Utah County.

“Gov. Herbert’s leadership on trade missions opens doors for Utah companies that in turn create jobs for Utahns across the state,” said Miles Hansen, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah). The governor attended foreign direct-investment meetings and visited with government officials.

Taiwan and South Korea are Utah’s sixth- and 11th-largest export destinations, respectively, and offer opportunities for companies interested in expanding their business in Asia. The mission took place Sept. 17-21.

The goal of the mission, according to leaders of the trip, was to forge connections and gain industry insights they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Throughout the mission, the Utah delegation promoted Utah as an attractive destination for foreign investment. Participants also visited the sites of several Utah companies that are already finding success in these markets.

With the support of World Trade Center Utah, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Zions Bank, the U.S. Commercial Service, Atlantic Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the trade mission included private and public organizations from various industries.

Businesses and organizations that participated in the trade mission to Taiwan and South Korea were Alegra Learning Inc., Beehive Distilling, BEST Police Training LLC, CBRE Group, Colliers International, CommGap International Language Services, DPS Skis, D-tect Systems, Economic Development Corporation of Utah, GlobalSim Inc., IDbyDNA Inc., Intermountain Farmers Association, inWhatLanguage and Maxtec.

Also on the trip were representatives from Mercury Wheels, Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., Optisys, PolarityTE, Red Leaf Resources Inc., Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, St. George Chamber of Commerce, Technology and Venture Commercialization, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, USTAR, Zenger Folkman and Zions Bank.