LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder plans to leave next week on another economic-development trip to Asia as part of an effort to boost Michigan tourism and investment.
The Republican governor told MLive.com that he looks forward to building on relationships garnered during his first two trips. Snyder, who announced plans for the trip to China and Japan earlier this year, also led trips to the region in 2011 and 2012.
“We had to essentially start from scratch with the first meeting in terms of official relationships,” Snyder said. His predecessor, Democrat Jennifer Granholm, didn’t visit China as governor.
During the trip, Snyder is expected to market the state’s export offerings — including agricultural products — and promote Michigan as a tourist destination. He’ll also work to convince Chinese business leaders that Detroit, despite its bankruptcy filing in July, is still a good place for investment.
The delegation includes Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.; George Zimmermann, director of Travel Michigan; and Jamie Clover Adams, director of Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Snyder is “prepared to talk about the bankruptcy and what it means and frankly to talk about the opportunity it represents more than anything else ... I think it’ll be handled in a positive and upbeat way but recognizing that it is a serious situation,” Finney said.
In China, Snyder plans to visit Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing, where he’ll meet with business and political leaders, attend an auto parts trade show and host a Pure Michigan tourism forum. In Japan, he’ll attend the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference in Tokyo.
After arriving in Shanghai on Thursday, Snyder will provide a welcome speech at the Pure Michigan Tourism Forum, an event being hosted by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to introduce Michigan as a travel destination to Chinese media and tour operators. Snyder will also meet with senior executives of leading Chinese companies to make the case that Michigan offers tremendous opportunities for Chinese businesses looking to make foreign investments and expand globally.
The delegation will fly to Chongqing for meetings with business and government leaders on Friday and Saturday. Late Saturday, the governor will travel to Tokyo, where he will be a keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Japan Midwest U.S. Association on Monday morning. Snyder will also meet with Gov. Yukiko Kada of Shiga Prefecture and other high-ranking Japanese government officials, as well as business executives from several large Japanese companies.
Later on Monday, Snyder will fly to Beijing where he will spend the rest of the week meeting with senior government officials and executives of some of China’s largest companies. He will also deliver the keynote address at the Chinese International Auto Parts Expo taking place Sept. 12-16.
Executives from 15 Michigan companies also are traveling to China. The trip is funded by the Michigan Economic Growth Foundation and the MEDC’s corporate funds. The state export program, which receives federal funding, is covering a portion of some companies’ costs.
This is Snyder’s sixth mission since taking office. He traveled to Israel in June to increase bilateral trade and investments, academic cooperation. He opened the Michigan Trade Center and met with business leaders in Toronto and Canadian government officials in Ottawa in November 2012. He led a 10-day trade mission to China in September 2012, a seven-day mission to Italy and Germany in March 2012 and an eight-day trade mission to Japan, China and Korea in September 2011.
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