Thousands of Utahns can trace their ancestry back to the United Kingdom, and Paul Dimond would like to see that common bond grow stronger through modern business connections.
Dimond, the new consul-general for the British Consulate office in Los Angeles, is making his first visit to Utah this week. And although Britain topped the state's export list in 1997, with more than $880 million in products sent from Utah to the United Kingdom, Dimond said he sees potential for more investment and trade."I think, in the modern era, investment is what makes the free economies of the world work the way they do . . .," Dimond said. "My job is to assist in the promotion of investment in either direction."
A career diplomat who came to Los Angeles six months ago, Dimond said several British companies already have invested in Utah. For example, Kennecott Utah Copper is wholly owned by Britain-based Rio Tinto.
But Dimond said the larger companies probably do not need as much help from his office when making international plans, so he hopes to develop partnerships between small and medium-sized companies in Utah and Britain.
"I think you have some fine, emerging high-tech companies in Utah," he said.
Dimond said the aerospace, biotechnology, specialized electronics, software, computer services and medical equipment industries, in particular, could be good candidates for increased trade. He also said he would like to see a direct air link established between the United Kingdom and Salt Lake City, possibly before the Olympics arrive here in 2002.
In addition to investment and trade, he said his office hopes to take advantage of its Los Angeles location to develop closer ties to the U.S. film and television entertainment industry.
"The entertainment industry is a very serious industry (in Los Angeles)," Dimond said.
The consulate should open the first British film office in Los Angeles in a couple weeks, Dimond said, and he knows the film industry also is growing in Utah.
He said he would like Britain to be known, not only as a possible location for filming, but also for its talented technicians. For example, he said, 15 British companies worked together on 760 special effects shots for this summer's science fiction movie, "Lost in Space."
Dimond said he and members of his team plan to make several trips to Utah each year, and he is looking forward to learning more about the state. Toward that end, one of his first purchases in Salt Lake City was a book on Utah history.
"As a newcomer, I'm trying to learn more about what makes this part of the world tick so effectively . . .," Dimond said. "I'm conscious I have a lot to learn."
Business people who are interested in establishing British ties can contact the consulate office in Los Angeles by phone at 1-310-477-3322 or by fax at 1-310-575-1450. Dimond said he also welcomes e-mail to Paul.Dimond@LosAngeles.mail.fco.gov.uk.