AP says Sarah Palin to travel to Asia next month

The Associated Press is reporting that former governor Sarah Palin will journey to Asia in September:

The former Alaska governor will visit Hong Kong to address the CLSA Investors Forum, a well-known annual conference of global investment managers, the host announced Monday.

Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Alan Greenspan have spoken at the event, hosted by brokerage and investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.

A statement from CLSA spokeswoman Simone Wheeler read, in part:

"We just felt it would be a fabulous opportunity for CLSA clients to hear from Mrs. Palin," Wheeler said, adding that CLSA approached Palin with the offer.

She said the conference aimed to present investors "a diversity of views that potentially influence decision-makers who help shape the markets."

The Sept. 23 address will mark Palin's first commercial speaking engagement, according to CLSA. Her speaking fees were not disclosed.

It will be closed to the media, and the topic has not yet been confirmed.

Excuse us, AP, but we will have to wait for confirmation from Gov. Palin or someone authorized to speak for her before we take this one to the bank. You know how optimistic some event organizers can be.

Businessweek quotes another CLSA spokeswoman, however, who gave assurances:

"It’s confirmed. She will be a speaker at our forum."

Still, we will have to wait for Sarah's people to confirm or deny, which they tend to do only when contacted and asked directly about a specific event. "Getting out front" on a story doesn't appear to be a high priority for the Palin organization. As they say, watch this space...

Meanwhile, the CLSA corporate website is here.

- JP