Snyder Completes Trade Mission to China

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LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has completed a week-long trade mission, visiting business and government leaders in five cities in China. The governor expressed confidence that the trip, his fourth in four years, will lead to significant opportunities for Michigan businesses and more jobs for Michigan residents.

“In the globally interconnected world of today, China offers extraordinary opportunities for Michigan companies to grow,” Snyder said. “The nine Michigan businesses that participated in the trade mission found potential new markets, distributorships and other business partnerships. The Chinese companies and government officials we met with are eager to seek greater cooperation with Michigan.”

Snyder met with top executives from several Chinese companies in meetings, business receptions and roundtables along with government officials in Beijing, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. He hosted tourism forums in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai to promote Pure Michigan as a travel destination to Chinese media and tour operators. He also participated in forums with auto and business reporters to address Michigan’s economic recovery and Detroit’s exit from bankruptcy.

Snyder also joined the signing of two major memorandums of understanding. One was between the Michigan Automotive Office and Chinese Association of Automotive Manufacturers to formally deepen the partnership and strengthen future collaboration between the two organizations. The other was between the state’s auto office and the Chinese Council for Promotion of International Trade Automotive Committee that commits to conducting a U.S.-China Automotive Forum both at the North America International Auto Show starting in January and the annual, alternating Shanghai/Beijing Auto Show.

Snyder lauded several contract signings between Chinese companies and the state or Michigan companies, including Rochester-based Air Liquid Systems Inc. & Hydrotech, Michigan Economic Development Corp. and soon-to-be based in Greenville CITIC Dicastal, and MEDC and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation subsidiary company, HASCO. Combined, these agreements represent millions of dollars in investments and thousands of Michigan jobs, Snyder said.