Cayetano to lead China business trip
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
Gov. Ben Cayetano and first lady Vicky Cayetano will lead a group of about 110 government officials and private business people on a trip to China next week.
The group will include 80 people who will travel with the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism on what is being called the "Aloha China!" business development mission. From China, Cayetano will travel to Japan for an economic meeting, and he will also attend a retirement ceremony for Hawai'i-born sumo star Akebono. The governor will be out of the state from Friday to Sept. 30.
Another 30 people from the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau will travel to the Beijing International Cultural Tourism Festival Sept. 23-27.
"I'm pleased to lend my support on behalf of Hawai'i and do what we can do to enhance our relationship with our friends from China," Cayetano said in a prepared statement. "It's important that we use our strategic location and cultural link to strengthen our tourism ties for the mutual benefit of both Hawai'i and China."
A spokesman for DBEDT said the trip will cost the state between $25,000 and $30,000, with other expenses underwritten by private sponsors and donors.
Wei-Wei Ojiri, vice president of the HVCB, said her organization budgeted $30,000 for the trip, and will also supplement that with contributions from sponsors.
The trip is designed to promote Hawai'i as a place for the Chinese to do business, seek out new technology and obtain training and education, DBEDT said.
The trip is also intended to encourage partnerships between companies in Hawai'i and China and boost convention business and tourism from China.
Most of the travelers will leave Honolulu on Friday for Hong Kong. Among the highlights of the trip will be seminars in Hong Kong, Gunagzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, and the launch of a Hawai'i-Guangdong tourism development program, according to the governor's office.
Richard Bahar, DBEDT business development program manager, said social and economic changes taking place in China offer special opportunities for Hawai'i educators and companies. Chinese businesses are looking for strategic partnerships with outside firms, which has sparked interest among Hawai'i biotechnology and high-technology companies, he said.
China also needs to train its people to do business domestically and overseas, and to train hotel operators and others who will serve foreign visitors as tourism and business travel in China expands.
"This represents a great opportunity for us because we've got the training resources here," he said.
A complete list of the officials traveling with the Cayetanos was unavailable, but the group includes Hawai'i Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Bob Fishman; Cayetano executive assistant Brenda Lei Foster; and DBEDT deputy director Sharon Narimatsu.
A dozen private companies will send representatives, including China Hawaii Investment Corp., Hawaii Opportunities Group; Hong Kong Business Association and Pan Pacific Travel.
The private firms will pay the travel costs of their representatives, according to a DBEDT spokeswoman.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
