Not so for neighboring Southeast Asia.

The region has been all but forgotten by potential trade partners despite its economic growth, something the Governor's Office of Economic Development hopes to change Wednesday when it hosts a meeting of Utah businesses with the 10-nation delegation from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The conference from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at downtown Salt Lake City's Grand America Hotel will feature representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The cost is $25 and includes lunch.

"For the past couple years, all the attention has been on China and India," said Brett Heimburger, director of the GOED's Asia office. "[Trade officials] have pretty much overlooked the Southeast Asian countries' own rapid economic growth."

The region is not only home to more than 500 million people, but also to an economy building at an 8 percent to 10 percent annual rate, which is on par with its larger neighbors.

Last year, Utah exported $350 million in goods and services to the region's nations - $125 million to Singapore alone. But that is a mere fraction of its potential, Heimburger said.

It also is a far cry from the export totals to Canada, Utah's top trading partner at $865 million. Singapore ranks No. 6, just ahead of seventh-place China at $123 million.

"This conference is a rare and unprecedented opportunity to discuss possible new trade transactions," he added.

Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. will provide keynote comments, followed to the podium by representatives of the delegation.

Prescheduled, one-on-one meetings with the delegates will then be offered to conference participants.

bmims@sltrib.com

Trade options conference

When: Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: Grand America Hotel, downtown Salt Lake City

Cost: $25, includes lunch

Information: Visit http://www.international.utah.gov or e-mail Justin Hansen at jchansen@utah.gov