November 01, 2007
November 1, 2007
DETROIT - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met in Lansing with the Swedish Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Eskil Erlandsson, where they discussed a variety of issues important to their respective governments, including forestry and the expansion of the alternative energy industry to create jobs in Michigan. Erlandsson also met with Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto and officials from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to discuss expanding economic development partnerships.
"Michigan is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this green energy revolution," Granholm said. "This strong relationship with Sweden confirms that our natural resources, world class universities, competitive business climate, outstanding workforce, and manufacturing strength make Michigan the perfect place to foster this growing sector and create jobs."
Granholm said she is pleased that the Swedish Minister has made Michigan a priority during his visit to the United States. Last week, the governor met with Jonas Hafström, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States.
"The green industries are a vital resource in the drive for sustainable development," Erlandsson said. "I want to make it easier to create new and exciting businesses between Sweden and Michigan. A combination of energy production, tourism, agriculture, and forestry can generate many new jobs."
In August, Governor Granholm participated in a jobs investment mission to Sweden. 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. Granholm is sending a representative from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to Sweden this 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 that will be sponsored by the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, Flint native Michael Wood.
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. Last week, we made the case to Ambassador Hafström, and today we're making that same case to Minister Erlandsson."
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