Feb. 27--Regional officials herald the upcoming 10-day trade mission to Abu Dhabi and Dubai as an opportunity to network with one of the world's richest and fastest growing economies.

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, who will lead the 85-member delegation, says the United Arab Emirates is already a major aerospace customer and could expand its investments in the Pacific Northwest.

But the trip, which departs Wednesday for the Middle East, isn't playing well with Snohomish County Council members who question whether Reardon should be jetting around the world just two months after the county laid off 160 employees and may have to cut more jobs by June.

"I'm not saying we shouldn't be involved in trade, but when we may have to make midyear layoffs, it's ridiculous," said County Councilman Mike Cooper.

Reardon stressed that as the trip leader, his costs are paid for by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. And Reardon isn't the only elected official participating.

Snohomish County Councilman Dave Gossett is also going on a fully paid scholarship. The city of Seattle will pay for council members Jan Drago and Richard McIver, who recently announced he would not seek re-election this year. The Port of Seattle is sending Commissioner John Creighton. The cost per person, including airfare, is about $8,000, said Sam Kaplan, vice president of the Trade and Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, which plans the yearly trade and study missions around the world in conjunction with the chamber.

Reardon went to Ireland in 2005, Australia in 2006, Finland in 2007 and China in 2008. He said that with 30,000 Boeing employees in the county, his participation in trade missions is vital.

"My county is the aerospace-manufacturing capital of the world and I'm the senior regional elected leader," Reardon said.

Kaplan said there are compelling reasons for elected officials to participate in trade missions. Three of the top employers in the Pacific Northwest -- Boeing, Microsoft and Paccar -- do at least 50 percent of their business overseas.

Boeing also does business with Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, in July ordered 45 777s and 787s with options for 35 more.

Kaplan said the United Arab Emirates is looking for ways to diversify its economy. Abu Dhabi alone has a $300 billion fund for world investment, Kaplan said.

"In tough economic times, international partners are more important than ever," he said.

But back at home, the Snohomish County Council and Reardon still haven't negotiated voluntary staff furloughs that could avert further layoffs. Only the union representing employees in the County Clerk's Office, and the County Council staff itself, have approved up to 80 hours of voluntary leave this year.

Nine vacant positions in the clerk's office weren't filled to help close the county's $21 million budget shortfall.

Councilman Dave Somers in December sent Reardon's staff a breakdown of the council's financial projections and estimated that 30 positions could be saved if the county's unions agreed to voluntary furloughs.

"We haven't heard back," said Somers. "I am very concerned about the lack of progress of discussions."

Councilman Gossett said he was a last-minute addition to the Dubai trip and only accepted because taxpayers wouldn't be footing the bill. He noted that the council eliminated all international travel from the 2009 budget.

"You could make a case that these trade missions are more valuable than ever," Gossett said.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times researcher Gene Balk contributed to this report.

-----

To see more of The Seattle Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.seattletimes.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, Seattle Times

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:BA, NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT, NASDAQ-NMS:PCAR,

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.