Politics & Government

Governor Hassan in Turkey for Week-Long Trade Mission

Turkey is NH's 12th largest trading partner, but GOP accuses Maggie Hassan of wining and dining 'on the taxpayers' dime.'

Gov. Maggie Hassan is now on a trade mission to Turkey, a trip including seven New Hampshire companies and efforts to expand international trade with more buinesses.

Jeffrey Rose, commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, is part of the state's team now overseas.

Turkey is New Hampshire's 12th largest trading partner and, the state says, a new direct flight between Boston and Istanbul increases opportunities for economic growth. New Hampshire businesses sent more than $79 million in goods and services to Turkey last year, according to the governor.

The trip is organized in partnership with the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) and the Turkish Cultural Center in Manchester.

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"Promoting international trade is a crucial way that we will boost our economy and continue to build a stronger middle class and a brighter economic future for the Granite State," Hassan said in a press release. "New Hampshire trade missions have been enormously beneficial to our state’s businesses and economy, and I'm very excited to help connect our businesses with new opportunities for growth, especially in sectors such as aerospace and defense, where our state is an emerging leader."

The New Hampshire businesses on the mission: Comptus, Conductive Compounds, Demers & Blaisdell, Hinckley Allen, MAE Consulting Group, Rokon and Ulysses Advisory Group.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The trade mission returns June 27.

The New Hampshire Republican Party has criticized Hassan for going on the trip, in part, because of a recent executive order to free certain state expenses, including out-of-state travel. Though the trade mission was coordinated well before that executive order, the GOP referred to it as the first-term governor "wining and dining" on the taxpayers' dime.

The GOP, on its website, features a photo of the governor on a mock-up of a fake show, "The Lifestyles of the Rich and Liberal."


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