Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Promotes Trade with Japanese Business Leaders
NEW YORK–Stressing the importance of exports, Gov. Matt Blunt this morning encouraged Japanese business leaders to continue to invest in Missouri.
“Missouri workers are the most productive employees in the world,” Blunt said. “Meeting with international business and trade leaders provides a chance to open more markets for Missouri-made products, generate more opportunities for Missouri workers and showcase the countless benefits of doing business in and with our state.”
Blunt met this morning with Motoatsu Sakurai, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York. Mr. Sakurai is the former CEO of Mitsubishi International Corp. Blunt also met with top Japanese CEOs and industry leaders, letting them know about the benefits of doing business in the Show-Me State.
Blunt was joined on the trip by Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Greg Steinhoff, Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan, State Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, St. Louis RCGA Senior Vice President Steve Johnson and Joplin Chamber of Commerce President Rob O’Brian. Richard is chairman of the House Economic Development Committee.
Japan is Missouri’s fourth-largest export partner. Missouri exported $504 million in goods to Japan in 2005. Missouri exports to Japan have increased 61 percent during the last five years. Chemicals are the top export to Japan, followed by food and kindred products, transportation equipment, computer and electronic products and electrical equipment. Missouri is home to 70 Japanese-owned manufacturing companies, which employ about 6,400 workers.
Under Blunt’s leadership, Missouri has enacted significant policy and legislative changes to improve the state’s economic climate. Blunt’s Missouri Quality Jobs Act ties economic incentives to job creation and offers a new approach to economic development that has allowed communities to attract and retain high-quality jobs.
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