Gov. John Hickenlooper returned from his jet-lagging jaunt to four countries in 12 days this week and declared it a relationship-building success that will pay dividends for Colorado.

“It might be argued we tried to take too big a bite,” Hickenlooper said Thursday. “We actually were in planes or trains for 46 hours in the 12 days. I don’t know if you can even imagine what that is like, but it’s not appetizing to experience.”

The trip took Hickenlooper and 52 business and academic leaders to Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Istanbul and Tel Aviv. Nine state employees tagged along and it was estimated to cost the state $50,000.

The mission, Hickenlooper said, sent the message that Colorado is open for international trade and business, strengthened relationships with federal and local governments, developed new business relationships and expanded international opportunities for Colorado universities.

“The best part about this trip was in a relatively small amount of time we made a lot of connections,” he said.

Hickenlooper said Colorado’s legalized adult-use marijuana market came up in every country they visited.

“It’s something that people are interested in. They want to hear the results,” Hickenlooper said, adding he advised people not to rush into it.

“We still don’t know what the unintended consequences are going to be and how expensive they are going to be.”

Hickenlooper said another thing that came up in every country was the need to develop the workforce and improve the education system.

“If anything, I am more concerned,” Hickenlooper said. “Everywhere we went. When we talked to the mayor of Shanghai, that was his highest priority and they have longer school days and longer school years. A lot of the same things that we are seeing are effective here but we have to scale them. They are scaling them.”

The governor said it makes him speechless to think about the work that needs to be done.

–

Contact Megan Schrader: 286-0644

Twitter @CapitolSchrader

“I’m a business guy who went into public life, and yet he and I are the extreme opposite,” said Colorado Democrat Gov. John Hickenlooper about presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)