Patrick plans trip to China to boost trade
Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he will lead a seven-day trade mission to China in early December, taking a team of business executives, academic leaders, and senior government officials to Beijing and Shanghai.
The delegation, scheduled to depart Nov. 30 and return Dec. 8, will focus on finding ways for Massachusetts leaders to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts on clean energy, life sciences, education, and transportation, the governor's office said.
"In today's global economy, competition is worldwide, and so are the opportunities," Patrick said in a press release.
Patrick's office did not provide a full list of those who will attend the trade mission, but the administration said the group will include representatives from the legislative leadership, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and the Massachusetts Port Authority, as well as from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The trip could help develop more air and sea connections between China and Massachusetts; Massport has been in discussions with airlines about service to China.
The giant country's exploding economy also makes it an obvious place to look for new business relationships.
Annie Johnson - coexecutive director of the New England Clean Energy Council, which represents companies and organizations working on solar, wind, and other forms of clean energy - said that she expects to go and that several of her group's members have also been invited.
Joshua Boger, president and chief executive of
"In my business experience, particularly for introductory meetings and getting to make contacts in business, there's no substitute for face-to-face business interactions, and this is a very efficient way to do that," he said. 