Huntsman Plans
Hands-On Approach
Hands-On Approach
| J |
on Huntsman Jr., Utah's new governor, may have a leg up on his 49 counterparts across the nation when it comes to luring investment from the world's manufacturing juggernaut. At least language won't be an obstacle.
"As a Chinese speaker, I can hit a home run as the only governor that speaks the language," Huntsman says, noting that several Pacific Rim companies are actively looking at Utah.
The Utah governor's job is the first elected office for the 44-year-old Huntsman, who is taking a hiatus as chairman and CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings, the holding company for the
US$10-billion group of chemical companies founded by his father. He's
had appointed positions in the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations
and served as U.S. ambassador to Singapore and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
for Asia and Africa.
During his campaign to be Utah's chief executive, Huntsman certainly talked the economic development talk, and as he takes office this month, he says he won't just walk the ED walk - he will hit the ground running. He's stated publicly he wants to be Utah's "economic development czar," a hat he will wear with no apologies as he settles in as one of seven new U.S. governors.
"I'm not willing to delegate that responsibility within the bureaucracy, and at the end of the day, I will be judged on economic development and job creation," he says. "Having served on the boards of Fortune 500 companies, I know that a governor can have a profoundly significant role. As the CEO of the state, the governor should be the most persuasive person in economic development. I fully intend to use that power to do a little door knocking and to sit down with the boards of companies that are looking to relocate."
In addition to Asia, Huntsman will also look to California to lure companies. However, Huntsman believes the best prospects for job creation lie within the state.
"I want to turn the dreams of our entrepreneurs into reality," he says. "If I can't create a nurturing environment, I will have failed."
Huntsman wants to encourage entrepreneurs produced by Utah's research universities, and has set a two-year goal of bringing in US$2 billion in new venture capital. That will enable Utah to compete with neighboring states such as Colorado, he says.
"As a Chinese speaker, I can hit a home run as the only governor that speaks the language," Huntsman says, noting that several Pacific Rim companies are actively looking at Utah.
The Utah governor's job is the first elected office for the 44-year-old Huntsman, who is taking a hiatus as chairman and CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings, the holding company for the
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| Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. says economic development will be a cornerstone of his administration. |
During his campaign to be Utah's chief executive, Huntsman certainly talked the economic development talk, and as he takes office this month, he says he won't just walk the ED walk - he will hit the ground running. He's stated publicly he wants to be Utah's "economic development czar," a hat he will wear with no apologies as he settles in as one of seven new U.S. governors.
"I'm not willing to delegate that responsibility within the bureaucracy, and at the end of the day, I will be judged on economic development and job creation," he says. "Having served on the boards of Fortune 500 companies, I know that a governor can have a profoundly significant role. As the CEO of the state, the governor should be the most persuasive person in economic development. I fully intend to use that power to do a little door knocking and to sit down with the boards of companies that are looking to relocate."
In addition to Asia, Huntsman will also look to California to lure companies. However, Huntsman believes the best prospects for job creation lie within the state.
"I want to turn the dreams of our entrepreneurs into reality," he says. "If I can't create a nurturing environment, I will have failed."
Huntsman wants to encourage entrepreneurs produced by Utah's research universities, and has set a two-year goal of bringing in US$2 billion in new venture capital. That will enable Utah to compete with neighboring states such as Colorado, he says.
