My home state is Michigan and my (recently re-elected) Governor is coming on a trade mission. Last year he came to Guiyang, but Guangzhou is the closest that he will come on this trip: See: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/11/governor_currently_in_china_on.html
Snyder spoke along with four other U.S. governors at the 45th annual joint meeting between the Japan-Midwest U.S. and Midwest U.S.-Japan associations in Tokyo in 2013. (Melissa Anders | MLive.com)
By Emily Lawler | elawler@mlive.com
on November 20, 2014 at 3:04 PM
LANSING, MI – Gov. Rick Snyder this week led a state delegation to China, where he hopes to woo Chinese investment and tourism.
A concurrent trade mission is being led by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which heads up the state’s tourism and economic development efforts. This trip includes nine Michigan companies that are looking to China for business opportunities.
BY THE NUMBERS
• In 2013, Michigan ranked eighth in U.S. exports to China.
• Over the past eight years, Michigan exports to China have risen almost 500 percent.
• Michigan companies exported nearly $4.1 billion in goods and materials to China in 2013.
Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
“New business investment in Michigan from China has surged since we reopened relations there in 2011,” Snyder said. “China makes a great opportunity for Pure Michigan tourism with its growing middle class in a population four times larger than ours in the U.S. We see broad export opportunities for Michigan in China and will be working to expand on our recent successes in this realm as well.”
So what typically happens on a trade mission? A year ago, MLive Reporter Melissa Anders joined the state delegation to find out. Learn about the trip and see examples of somecompanies that have participated in the past.
This time around, Snyder and the Michigan delegation will lead trips to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. At that last spot he’ll be vising the Guangzhou International Auto Show.
In addition to Snyder, the state delegation includes:
• Michael Finney, MEDC president and CEO
• Kevin Kerrigan, MEDC senior vice president, Automotive Office
• Lindsay Eister, MEDC chief of protocol
• Brian Connors, MEDC international business development manager, China
• Jeanne Broad, MEDC director, international trade management
• Weiwei Lu, MEDC international trade development manager, China
• David Lorenz, MEDC travel industry relations and international marketing manager
• Emily Palsrok, MEDC managing director, public relations
• Birgit Klohs, The Right Place, president and CEO
• Maureen Kraus, Detroit Regional Chamber, vice president of economic development
• Matt Gibb, Oakland County, deputy county executive
• Camille Silda, Macomb County senior economic development specialist
• Allison Scott, executive assistant to the governor
• Sara Wurfel, press secretary to the governor
The following companies will be going on the concurrent MEDC mission:
• Air and Liquid Systems, Inc.
• ATCO Industries
• Coffee Beanery
• Corrigan Air and Sea Cargo
• Global Electronics
• Huron Technologies
• KC Jones Plating
• SmithGroup JJR Incorporated
• Tranor Industries
Previous trade missions to China have already brought $1 billion worth of investment to the state, according to information provided by the Governor’s office.
The mission began Nov. 19 and last for a week. According to the Associated Press, Snyder’s 2013 trip to China and Japan cost $251,000 and the concurrent MEDC trip cost $173,000. Of that, $219,000 was covered by MEDC “corporate” funds, money the MEDC gets from Native American casino agreements, and $32,000 came from the Michigan Economic Development Foundation, a non-profit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her atelawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter:@emilyjanelawler.