On behalf of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I express support for Utah's communication strategy of creating content in Spanish on Utah's official Web site. Further, we encourage the governor's office, state agencies and municipalities to continue developing communications strategies that inform all taxpayers.

The chamber further commends Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert's efforts to reach out to Hispanic voters through the Spanish media campaign informing voters how the new voting system works. California, Texas, Washington and Idaho have official state information in Spanish on their Web sites. They also conduct voter-education events and provide information in Spanish. They want all voters to be engaged in voting. This is what makes our nation great.

As Latinos and Latinas, we understand that English is our official language, and we honor the current law regarding this issue. In fact, most Latinos speak English and strive to become proficient in English. However, we also choose to speak in Spanish because it is part of our heritage and culture and is critical as we develop new markets for our businesses in the United States and the world.

As citizens of the United States, we continually encourage our families, especially our children, to learn English and become fluent so they can be part of this prosperous society and contribute to our nation. If we choose to speak in Spanish, it doesn't mean we are not true Americans. After all, our nation has a long history that involves the Spanish language. More than 4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico are Spanish and are also English speakers.

I often wonder why we are so afraid of people who speak another language. Instead, we should encourage all citizens to be fluent in other languages. This is exactly what makes Utah and its citizens a very highly educated and prosperous society. Many of our citizens speak a foreign language and have spent time in other countries. I cannot think of another state or country in the world as educated in foreign languages.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the fact our volunteers were proficient in so many languages made people feel welcome. We should use this amazing asset to bring more foreign business and tourism into our state.

The face of Utah is changing. More than 11 percent of Utah's population is Latino. In Salt Lake City, West Valley, Ogden, Provo, Park City and many other Utah cities, the Latino population and Hispanic-owned businesses make up a significant part of the local demographics.

Voter information should continue to be provided in Spanish. But the most important reason the state of Utah should have Spanish content on its Web site is because it promotes economic development and tourism. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has decided to promote and increase Utah's trade with Mexico, India and China. If we are serious about promoting Utah as a state that is ready to do business with other countries, we must have official state information in other languages. Without giving up our values, our way of life and what we stand for, we must show the world that we are ready to be an international player in world trade.

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Joe Reyna is the former deputy mayor of Ogden City Corp. and chairman of the board of directors of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.