October 12, 2010
Will meet with companies looking to expand, invest in Michigan
LANSING - On Thursday, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will begin an overseas investment mission to France and Sweden where she will meet with key executives from companies looking to expand or establish a presence in Michigan.
"Once again, I am looking forward to making the case for Michigan," Granholm said. "I'm committed to going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and jobs to our state. 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."
During the October 14-21 investment mission, the governor will visit global automakers at the Paris Auto show where she has been invited to speak on her work to help drive the greening of the auto industry, speak at a conference about sustainable cities in Stockholm, meet with Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and other Swedish government officials, and visit a number of companies to make the case for their expansion in Michigan. The governor will be accompanied by Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main.
In France, the governor will meet with executives from Valeo, a leading global supplier of automotive systems and components; give a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce titled "Michigan: The Place to do Business in the 21st Century"; meet with Daimler executives; and meet with officials from Dassault Systems, the parent company of Delmia, an automotive supplier located in Auburn Hills.
In Sweden, the Governor will meet with Maud Olofsson, Minister of Enterprise and Energy, to discuss collaborations between Michigan and Sweden in renewable energy, clean technology and advanced materials sectors. She will also meet with executives of Swedish Biogas International, which currently has operations in Flint; and executives of URV, parent company of URV USA, a company that will produce next generation castings for wind turbine hubs in Michigan. Granholm will also tour Hammarby Sjostad, an industrial part of Stockholm that has been transformed into an eco-friendly district known for its innovative recycling programs.
"These missions are an effective way to deliver our message to top executives and decision-makers," Main said. "Business leaders and decision-makers across the globe are taking notice of our aggressive economic plan and choosing to invest and grow in Michigan."
This mission to France and Sweden will be the governor's 11th overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Italy and Sweden have resulted in 48 companies announcing over $1.8 billion in new investment in Michigan and 20,699 (9,244 direct) jobs created and retained.
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