Perry trip to Middle East poses boon for economy, aides say
Costs still to be seen
By W. Gardner Selby
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, March 23, 2007
Gov. Rick Perry's eight-day journey to the Middle East may have involved a languorous meal or two, but the trip, capped by the dedication of a Texas A&M University facility, was no lark, his office said Thursday.
"It was an extraordinary visit that exceeded our wildest expectations," said Eric Bearse, Perry's director of commu- nications.
 TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT QATAR Victor Legorreta, left, is an architect of the new Texas A&M University building in Qatar. He explained the design to former President H.W. Bush, Gov. Rick Perry and Barbara Bush as Qatar royalty looked on. |
The Republican governor, who returned Wednesday evening from a visit to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, encouraged an executive with Emirates Airline to consider starting a nonstop flight from Dubai to Dallas, following up on a planned direct flight to Houston.
Perry learned that one company is open to building a "pentominium" in the United States, perhaps in Houston, Bearse said. That would be a skyscraper in which each floor consists of a penthouselike living space.
Perry's office said it is still tallying costs of the privately funded trip. According to a Web search Thursday, one business class ticket to Dubai costs about $8,000 on Continental Airlines, and prices at the two hotels where he stayed were $385 a night and $785 a night.
Most lawmakers, buried in the misery of drafting and passing legislation typical of a session, scarcely noticed Perry's absence, although the Texas Democratic Party accused him of embarking on a junket and ignoring the Texas Youth Commission scandal.
Bearse, who was one of four aides on at least a portion of the trip, said Perry stayed in touch by telephone and the Internet. And his accompanying general counsel, Brian Newby, briefed him.
"Even in the midst of a busy legislative session, the governor still has other responsibilities and duties," Bearse said, "one of them being to build relationships with friends and neighbors who in turn invest in a higher quality of life in Texas."
Perry and his wife, Anita, were joined for several days by their 20-year-old daughter, Sydney, a Texas A&M sophomore.
Perry usually pays for his travel from his campaign kitty. In this case, Perry plans to pay his daughter's expenses personally, his office said, with the rest of the trip's costs to be covered by TexasOne, a foundation started on Perry's watch to market Texas.
The foundation's biggest backers, donating $50,000 each over three years, include the Vinson & Elkins law firm, telecommunications giants Verizon and AT&T, the road-building lobby group Associated General Contractors of Texas and Opportunity Austin, a project of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Suzy Woodford of the government watchdog group Common Cause of Texas said that if Perry intended the trip to help Texas, he should have committed state tax dollars to it. "Then there're no questions later on about who ultimately financed it and what advantages they may gain."
Perry spokesman Robert Black said, "The fact is, communities and companies across Texas participate in TexasOne because it is one of the best tools to promote Texas outside our borders and encourage economic expansion in our state."
Bearse said the trip will pay off for Texas in stronger ties to the oil-rich region and economic development.
Perry closed the trip by dedicating a Texas A&M engineering facility in Doha, Qatar.
Earlier, he took in a dozen events that included one-on-one visits with business executives and sometimes lengthy meals with high-powered officials. He scooted on a boat to peer at a artificial island project. He huddled with a Muslim leader whose group is building an Ismaeli center in Houston, with hopes of also establishing an exhibit showing Muslim contributions to world culture, education and architecture.
One executive spoke highly of importing oil-related equipment from Houston, Bearse said, and Trident International Holdings described construction of the world's first pentominium in Dubai. Also in Dubai, Emaar Properties told Perry that it is building the world's tallest building — height to be settled after a competing project in Beijing is finished.
Before leaving, Perry and his wife visited 75 service members, mostly from Texas, taking rest and recreation at a U.S. base in Qatar. The night before, the governor watched 15 students field Aggie rings. Far from Texas, Perry closed his remarks by saying, "Thank you, God bless you, and Gig 'em."
wgselby@statesman.com; 445-3644
Where they slept, where they ate
Accommodations
• Four nights, Al Qasr Hotel, Dubai, advertised as majestic mansion-style hotel
• Two nights, Ritz-Carlton, Doha, Qatar, advertised as an exclusive island resort nestled on the shores of the Arabian Gulf
Selected meals
• March 15: Lunch with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
• March 15: Dinner with family, Burj Al Arab, Dubai, aquarium restaurant
• March 16: Dinner hosted by Aga Khan Development Network, Dubai World Trade Centre Club
• Saturday: Dinner hosted by Trident International Holdings, Joharah Ballroom, Madinat Jumeirah Resort
• Monday: Luncheon honoring Chase Untermeyer, U.S. ambassador to Qatar, and embassy staff, Diplomatic Club, Doha, Qatar
• Tuesday: Private dinner with Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Al Wajbah Palace, Qatar
Sources: Governor's office
About TexasOne
Founded in September 2003, the TexasOne foundation raises and spends money on marketing Texas for economic development.
The foundation's mission is to create a public/private partnership to market Texas in a dynamic and competitive manner.
In its 2006 annual report, the foundation reported raising $4 million toward its goal of $5 million, with membership taking in more than 100 corporations, associations and communities.
Sources: Annual Report, 2006, TexasOne foundation and www.texasone.us.
