Hawaii success
mixed in landing
conventions

The state gains one international
meeting but loses the WTO event

Associated Press

Hawaii landed an international business convention yesterday morning but lost a huge global trade convention in the afternoon.

The Pacific Basin Economic Council will hold its 2000 annual meeting at the Hawaii Convention Center, Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday during his State of the State address.

The PBEC is an international organization representing more than 1,100 companies in 20 countries. Those companies account for more than $4 trillion in global sales and employ more than 10 million people.

"Hawaii is a state that means business, and the PBEC (meeting) will be an outstanding opportunity to enhance our state's reputation as a first-class destination not just for recreation, but also as a place for serious business," Cayetano said.

The PBEC also said it was considering whether to make Honolulu the permanent host for the annual meetings.

In yesterday's address, Cayetano said he hoped the PBEC's decision would persuade the World Trade Organization to hold its upcoming ministerial in Honolulu.

But in the afternoon, the Clinton administration announced that Seattle won out over five other U.S. cities bidding for the new round of global trade talks involving more than 100 countries.

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshesfky said Seattle would play host for the "largest trade event ever held in the United States and it will inaugurate global negotiations, which will shape world trade as we move to the next century."

Hawaii government and tourism officials had lobbied hard for the WTO meeting, hoping that it would boost business for the convention center and the state's image as a place to do business.

The conference, to be attended by trade ministers from the 133 nations that are members of the World Trade Organization, is scheduled for Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

Seattle was among six finalists vying for the WTO ministerial. Besides Honolulu, the other cities were Dallas, Detroit, Denver and San Diego.