Bligh begins US trade mission

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is ending a family holiday to the US with a trade
mission promoting tourism, clean energy and bioscience technology.
Ms Bligh, who has been holidaying with her family in the US this month, will begin
the six-day trade mission from Friday, starting in New York.
Among her engagements is attending the opening of Queensland's award-winning second
skin technology company Microskin's New York clinic before representing the state at
G'Day USA events in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The annual Australia Week event promotes the country in sectors as diverse as art,
food, wine, fashion, tourism and business services.
Ms Bligh will then travel to San Francisco to meet investors and company directors
to discuss clean energy and bioscience technology before visiting a Silicon Valley
event showcasing Australian innovation.
"Being in the US for leave at this time gives me the opportunity to participate in
G'Day USA and to aggressively promote opportunities for Queensland in the world's
biggest economy as it starts to emerge from recession," Ms Bligh said in a
statement.
Ms Bligh had been holidaying in the US with her family in January and paid for her
own flights.
The opposition has been critical of the visit.