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State and local economic development executives are keeping busy with globe-trotting trade missions.

This week, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), business executives and others embarked on a 10-day trip to South Korea and China.

Participants include representatives from HarVest Bank of Maryland, Amarex Clinical Research, TissueGene, RNL Biostar, Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, K&Y Investment Properties, Zaracom and Rafagen, plus the state Department of Business and Economic Development and National Institutes of Health. Some are going for just the Korea or China portion.

HarVest Bank is interested in promoting the general business climate in Montgomery County through this trip and others, CEO Jack Hollerbach said in a statement. He also participated in a county-led mission to India last year.

"We hope to develop an understanding of the cultures in these countries in order to better serve existing clients and attract customers from these communities to the bank," Hollerbach said.

A key focus will be biotechnology, as leaders build on ties forged for the past few years, said Patrick Lacefield, a spokesman for Leggett. A number of Korean- and Chinese-owned businesses have set up shop in the county in recent years, he said.

The group is scheduled to return Oct. 17. In Korea, participants will attend the Bio Korea 2008 forum and meet with the president of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers.

In China, the itinerary includes visits to the Chinese operations of two Maryland companies, U.S. Pharmacopeia and Sirnaomics, plus Marriott International hotels in China and Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

"We hope to sign some memorandums of understanding," Lacefield said.

The trip's cost for Leggett and his aides is about $38,000, Lacefield said. Some of that should be reimbursed by the state, he said.

Previous missions to Israel and India have resulted in more economic development and trade locally, and more than made the expenses worthwhile, Lacefield said. "It's money well spent," he said.

State missions

to Europe, Africa

Robert L. Walker, the state's director of international trade and investment, said representatives from his office have recently visited Sweden, Finland, Russia and South Africa. The state will host this year, or recently has hosted, delegations from Spain, Russia, China and Finland, he said.

"This has probably been the most active month for our team to promote Maryland internationally," Walker said.

The Finland visit included a pitch to get biotech and technology companies to invest in and move operations to the state. "We were told it was the first time a state delegation had much such a formal pitch to companies in Finland," Walker said.

The missions encourage companies to move operations to Maryland and increase trade with local businesses, Walker said. "To do that, it requires travel," he said. "You can't do this type of work sitting in your office."

The state plans to open its sixth foreign office in South Korea this fall. It will be the first foreign office that will be run by a private company, a concept that will likely serve as a model for future foreign offices, Walker said.

IDI Corp. of Ellicott City will run the office and receive funding on the condition that it attracts South Korean companies that create jobs in Maryland.

Exports from Maryland companies to other nations grew by 35 percent in the first half this year from a year ago, to $5.7 billion, according to federal data. That jump was almost twice the national rate of growth.

China was Maryland's fifth largest export partner last year, while South Korea was 14th. Exports to South Korea grew by 71 percent in the first half this year to $130 million, and to China by 16 percent to $233 million.

Trading to foreign markets certainly helps offset some of the impact of a down economy, Walker said.