Governor Nixon, on behalf of the state of Missouri, has signed an agreement with Hebei provincial officials in China to increase Missouri exports to the Chinese province by $100 million over the next three years.
In a release, Nixon says officials from Hebei will work with the Missouri Department of Economic Development to facilitate an additional $100 million in investment in Missouri by Chinese businesses as well.
Today’s $200 million export and investment agreement with Hebei Province comes on top of the $4.4 billion export agreement Gov. Nixon closed with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade earlier this week, as the trade mission there continues. Two Missouri companies — Arcturis, an architectural design firm in St. Louis; and Mediomics, a biomedical research firm in St. Louis — also closed and signed agreements with customers in Hebei this morning.
“When Missouri businesses sell more goods overseas, it creates jobs at home and moves our economy forward,” Nixon says. “This trade mission is delivering tangible results for Missouri businesses and helping them open new doors in the Chinese market. We’re also laying a solid foundation for continued growth in the years to come.”
The Missouri delegation, which includes Nixon, Ag Director Jon Hagler, Rep. Jason Kander, Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan and others, arrived in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei, on Tuesday. The group now heads to Shanghai.
Nixon’s office reports that prior to departing Beijing on Tuesday, the governor addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. During his remarks, he highlighted the importance of increasing Missouri exports to China to create jobs at home.
“We want Missouri businesses to sell more of their outstanding goods to Chinese customers, whether they’re selling corn or chemicals, soybeans or steel,” Nixon told chamber members. “Because we know that when Missouri businesses sell goods here in China, it creates jobs for more people back at home.”
Nixon stressed that Missouri is a leader in agriculture, animal health, transportation and advanced manufacturing.
“We are world leaders in innovation, technology and advanced manufacturing,” he said. “That’s why many of America’s largest corporations — from Emerson Electric to Peabody Energy to Boeing, Ford and GM — have invested in our state. And it’s why Missouri is a state where start-ups and emerging businesses thrive. Many of the businesses in our delegation have expertise in these fields.”
Thursday, Nixon will meet with The CHINT Group, a solar-manufacturing firm in Hongzhou, where he plans to close an export and investment agreement with the Zhejiang Provincial Government. Friday, he’ll address the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and have other business and governmental meetings.