RICHMOND — A top California economic official said Thursday that linking the workforce and its skills with emerging industry is key to Richmond’s future.

Kish Rajan, Director of California’s Office of Business and Economic Development, was the keynote speaker at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Richmond Economic Summit at the Civic Center.

“Events like this — opportunities to connect the business community with local government and workforce training providers — are one of the proactive ways that Richmond is working to keep its economic future positive,” Rajan said, according to a chamber news release.

The event is organized annually to unite business, economic development and workforce training experts to discuss business and job growth at the local level.

As communities prepare their workforce at the local level, Gov. Jerry Brown is focused on helping them create jobs by streamlining statewide business regulations, Rajan said.

The visit comes less than a month after the nation’s top labor visited the city’s RichmondBUILD facility and told local leaders that partnerships between business and community colleges and other institutions of higher learning are key to America’s economic future.

The event included breakout study sessions and concluded with a job fair.

Contact Robert Rogers at 510-262-2726 or rrogers@bayareanewsgroup.com and follow Twitter.com/roberthrogers.