April 08, 2010
April 8, 2010
Ongoing commitment to go anywhere, do anything to bring jobs to state
LANSING - On Friday, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm begins her tenth overseas investment mission, this time to Italy and Germany where she will meet with key executives from companies looking to expand or establish a presence in Michigan.
During the April 9-15 investment mission, the governor also will speak at a business luncheon hosted by the Italian Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA) in Turin, Italy, and at a reception in Stuttgart, Germany, cosponsored by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart Region and the Byrnes Institute. The governor will be accompanied by Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main.
"I am committed to going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and jobs to Michigan, and so once again, I am looking forward to making the case for Michigan," Granholm said. "Michigan is the best place for Italian and German companies interested in expanding in North America. Michigan has the right economic strategy, a competitive business climate, and a highly skilled and highly productive workforce that provides companies across a wide spectrum of industries an advantage over their competitors."
In Italy, the governor will meet with Italian Secretary of State Stefania Craxi; senior leadership from Fincantieri Marine, a designer and builder of merchant and naval vessels; officials from Magneti Marelli, a supplier of engine, powertrain and electrical components to Fiat; and Fiat S.p.A and Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne. Approximately 25 executives from Italian auto suppliers will attend the ANFIA luncheon where the governor will highlight Michigan's automotive research and development strengths and diversification efforts.
In Germany, meetings are scheduled with executives from various divisions of the Bosch Group; MITEC AG, a global auto propulsion technology company; Kostal, a manufacturer of electromechanical and mechatronic products; and Daimler. Approximately 100 company officials, government leaders and members of the German press are expected to attend the governor's speech in Stuttgart where she will discuss Michigan's focus on clean-energy manufacturing and jobs.
"Business leaders and decision-makers across the globe are taking notice of our aggressive economic plan and choosing to invest and grow in Michigan," Main said. "These missions are an effective way to deliver our message to C-level executives and decision-makers and to keep winning investment and jobs from global companies who want to be in on the ground floor of Michigan's exciting transformation."
This trip to Italy and Germany will be the governor's tenth overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan, and Sweden have resulted in 47 companies announcing over $1.6 billion in new investment in Michigan and 12,995 (7,344 direct) jobs created and retained.
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