Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks during a news conference about a bipartisan property tax reduction bill on May 6, 2024, at the Colorado Capitol. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is leading a group of state employees and business representatives on an “investment mission” to Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
Staff from the Global Business Development division of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade joined Polis on the trip to exchange ideas related to technology and innovation. The group will attend a “full agenda” of corporate, governmental and diplomatic meetings across the three countries, Polis’ office said in a press release.
“Our strong international relationships create jobs for Coloradans and boost investment in our state,” Polis said. “I am thrilled to help build new partnerships in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, nations that share our commitment to renewable energy, technological innovation, quantum computing and other thriving Colorado industries.”
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In addition to representatives from several Colorado universities and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Polis is joined on the trip by business leaders from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and companies including United Airlines, Atom Computing, LongPath Technologies, Vescent Technologies and Xairos.
Eric Maruyama, a spokesperson for Polis, said the governor and business delegates paid for their own travel expenses, and the state purchased coach airfare at market value for state employees. He didn’t specify the amount of state money spent on the trip. The final cost of the trip will be determined once it is complete.
In Sweden, the group will focus discussions on technology and clean energy, exploring potential collaborations to contribute to efforts to mitigate climate change. In Denmark, the group will explore opportunities in wind, solar and hydrogen energies, as well as energy storage, e-mobility and urban sustainability. In Finland, the group will celebrate a 2022 partnership between the country and Colorado and look for new opportunities related to renewable energy and quantum computing.
“Investment missions offer Colorado companies and institutions critical exposure to foreign markets, increasing foreign investment and enhancing our state’s global competitiveness,” Michelle Hadwiger, director of OEDIT’s Global Business Development division, said in a statement. “Visiting Denmark, Finland and Sweden is a unique opportunity to highlight Colorado as an ideal business location and expand relationships in a region of the world that shares our commitments to innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Polis went on an investment mission to Japan last year and paid for travel himself. He also went to India in 2019 during his first term in office for similar efforts. That trip cost the state about $20,000, KDVR reported, but Polis paid for some of his own expenses then, too. Delegates who attended from many of the same organizations had to pay $3,500 each for the 2019 trip.
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