October 25, 2007
October 25, 2007
DETROIT - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met in Detroit with the newly-appointed Swedish Ambassador to the United States, Jonas Hafström, where they discussed a variety of issues important to their respective governments, including expansion of the alternative energy industry to create jobs in Michigan. The meeting marks Hafström's first visit to Michigan since taking his new post in September.
"My investment mission to Sweden in August confirmed that Michigan is well-positioned to be a world leader in alternative energy," Granholm said. "In our effort to grow the number of jobs in our alternative energy sector, we want to strengthen our ties to Sweden, which is a world leader in the field of alternative energy. A strong relationship with Sweden coupled with our natural resources, world class universities, competitive business climate, outstanding workforce, and manufacturing strength make Michigan the perfect place to foster this growing sector."
Granholm said she is pleased that Ambassador Hafström has made Michigan a priority as he assumes his new post in Washington.
"We would like to see Sweden at the forefront of a process that leads to a brighter future for Michigan, both environmentally as well as in business and trade," said Hafström. "Last year, Swedish companies created 1,000 new jobs in Michigan, clearly contributing to the growth of the state. To stimulate cooperation and investment further, my goal is to get Swedish high tech companies to Michigan and thereby contribute to the development of alternative fuels and energy."
Granholm is sending a representative from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to Sweden next month who will meet with several alternative energy companies that were identified during her investment mission and are considering investment in Michigan. The upcoming meetings are in advance of a venture capital symposium sponsored that will be sponsored by the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, and Flint native, Michael Wood.
During her investment mission, Granholm met with leaders of the country's alternative energy industry, including government and company officials, in an effort to develop partnerships and encourage investment in Michigan.
The governor also witnessed a historic agreement between Swedish-based Chemrec AB and Ohio-based NewPage Corporation to explore the development of a plant to produce renewable biomass-based fuels at the NewPage paper mill in Escanaba. Granholm called the agreement an example of the possibilities for partnership that exist between Swedish and Michigan firms and why she is anxious to host a summit to explore more opportunities between the two nations.
Following her mission to Sweden, Granholm announced that Michigan will host a Michigan-Sweden alternative energy summit in early 2008 to accelerate investment and job creation.
"Bringing together leading researchers and entrepreneurs from Sweden and Michigan to share ideas will increase the pace of investment in this critical sector of Michigan's economy," Granholm said.
"Companies that want to invest in North America now see Michigan as a state with an aggressive economic plan and competitive business climate," Granholm said. "Our investment mission gave me a chance to meet face-to-face with nearly 60 business executives to make the case that Michigan is the right place to invest and grow jobs, and today we're making that same case to Ambassador Hafström."
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