"We're committed to putting all of the public and private resources in international trade under one roof," Chris Roybal said in the keynote address to the Utah Capital Connection Conference at the Grand America Hotel. "We want a one-stop shop."

The idea of a highly visible trade center occupied by public and private organizations engaged in global commerce was broached last year by interim Gov. Olene Walker.

The fact that Huntsman also supports the concept is good news for Utah's business community, said World Trade Association of Utah president Brent Hansen.

"Having a World Trade Center makes a statement we are an international city, we want to do business with the world," Hansen said.

A center in Salt Lake City may not necessarily be affiliated with the World Trade Centers Association, a nonprofit organization involved in the startup of World Trade Centers worldwide, said Huntsman administration spokeswoman Tammy Kikuchi.

How the center would be structured, funded and built remains unclear. The state is trying to gauge interest from private developers.

"Right now it's all conceptual," Kikuchi said.

In addition to trying to establish a trade center, Huntsman is reorganizing the state's approach to international trade.

Not long after taking office, Huntsman fired nearly three dozen economic development employees, including the state's international trade staff.

The governor and his advisers are reviewing what the state's role in international trade should be, including the role of state offices in foreign countries.

"There may be some changes down the road on those," Roybal said.

lesley@sltrib.com