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Anderson appointed president
of Pacific Northwest
Economic Region (PNWER)
Rep. Glenn Anderson
announced today he will be named president of the Pacific Northwest
Economic Region (PNWER) when the organization holds its annual
conference in Seattle later this week. Anderson, R-Fall City, has been a
member of PNWER for five years and has served as the group’s U.S. vice
president since 2002. He is a staunch advocate for pro-job legislation
in the Washington state Legislature, where he has served since 2000.
“As the global economy
becomes ever more competitive, we must be even more focused and driven
to succeed,” Anderson said. “Canada is our number one international
trading partner. The unique U.S. - Canadian relationship within PNWER
can be a powerful asset that gives our state economy a competitive
advantage.”
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region is a public/private partnership of
governments, private companies and organizations in the Northwest states
(Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Montana) and the Western Canadian
provinces (British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon). The group, formed in
1991 by statues in the member states and provinces, seeks to promote
greater regional cooperation and make the Northwest more globally
competitive, while at the same time maintaining or improving the area’s
environment. All governors, premiers and state legislators are members,
as are private businesses, counties, economic development commissions
and industry associations.
The PNWER will hold its annual summit July 14 – 18 at the Westin Hotel
in Seattle. More than 500 business and government leaders are expected
to attend, including Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (opening keynote
speaker), Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (speaking), Canadian Deputy
Prime Minister Anne McLellan (speaking), Sen. Patty Murray (tentatively
speaking), Congressman Dave Reichert (speaking), Congressman Norm Dicks,
80 – 100 state and provincial legislators, high-ranking officials from
the Department of Homeland Security, and representatives from Boeing,
Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, BP Canada Energy Company, the NW Cruise
Ship Association, the Port of Seattle, Nextel and more.
Issues up for discussion
at the conference include planning and cooperation for the 2010
Olympics, a west coast transportation corridor, strategies for removing
trade barriers, cattle and beef trade issues, border security issues, a
bi-national pipeline, and ways to cooperatively promote the region as a
hub for nanotechnology (molecular engineering).
Anderson said he is looking forward to leading PNWER at such an
exciting, dynamic time, especially as planning gears up for the 2010
Olympics.
“If the states and
provinces in PNWER were a nation, its economy would rank 10th in the
world – a figure even larger than the California state economy,”
Anderson said. “That’s what makes this organization so important. The
more we work together, the more leverage we will have in promoting our
region’s products, companies, natural resources and tourism
opportunities to the rest of the U.S. and around the world. That
cooperation will be a priority this year. I will also be encouraging
PNWER’s commitment to the education and training of skilled workers from
across the Northwest to meet the demands of a 21st century economy.”
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
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