Gov. Nixon to Lead Missouri Delegation of Public Officials, Business Leaders on Trade Mission to Italy, Germany and Spain

Press Release

Gov. Jay Nixon will lead a delegation of Missouri government and business leaders on a trade mission to Italy, Germany and Spain from March 20 through March 28. The trade mission will have two primary objectives: continue the growth in Missouri exports that has occurred in recent years, and promote Missouri as an ideal location for international companies to make investments.

"In every corner of Missouri, in large cities and small towns, international businesses are choosing to invest in Missouri because of the many advantages we offer, including a skilled workforce and a pro-business climate," Gov. Nixon said. "That's why we've made it a priority to promote significant investment in Missouri by foreign companies. And with the continued growth of Missouri exports, we're also focused on putting more Missouri-made products in countries around the world. This trade mission to these European trading partners will further both of these efforts."

The trade mission delegation will meet with company leadership from several foreign businesses that have facilities in Missouri, including Buzzi Unicem, an Italian cement producer; and chemical giant BASF, based in Germany. Those meetings will focus on possible expansion of the companies' investment in the Show-Me State. The delegation also will meet with other companies, especially auto makers and automotive suppliers, not yet in Missouri but which are considering increasing their investment in the United States.

Increasing Missouri exports will be the other primary focus of the trade mission. Last month, the Governor announced that Missouri export sales reached $14.1 billion in 2014, the second highest year on record after 2012. Exports of Missouri products were up 9 percent over the previous year.

Missouri exports to Germany, Italy and Spain totaled more than $577 million in 2014. Germany was the state's seventh-largest trading partner last year, purchasing $402 million in Missouri goods. Italy purchased $131 million in Missouri goods, ranking 17th; and Spain purchased more than $44.6 million, ranking 32nd.

Joining Gov. Nixon on the delegation will be First Lady Georganne Nixon; Mike Downing, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development; Richard Fordyce, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture; Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey; House Speaker John Diehl; State Sen. Jill Schupp; and State Rep. John Rizzo.

The Missouri delegation also will include representatives of several businesses and organizations, including Blakemore Ag-Plastics, Intek Corp., Shiloh Innovations, Healthy Harvest Products, Missouri Corn Growers, Masterclock, and Enginuity Worldwide.

"We are incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to accompanying the Governor on this important mission," said John Clark, vice president of Masterclock. "We are a Missouri-made company that started in a garage and now have customers in more than 65 countries around the globe. We are a testament to how increasing exports grows the economy here at home and we appreciate the Governor's leadership to help more companies like ours reach new markets and new heights."

The Governor, First Lady and other members of the delegation will arrive in Italy on Saturday, March 21. They will travel to Germany on Tuesday, March 24 and then to Spain on Thursday, March 26. The delegation will return to the United States on Saturday, March 28. Travel costs for Governor and Mrs. Nixon will be covered by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic growth in Missouri. State taxpayer funds will not be used.

Gov. Nixon has made creating opportunities for Missouri businesses to sell their products around the globe and promoting Missouri as an ideal location for investment by foreign companies a top economic development priority for his administration. The Governor has led successful trade missions to China (October 2011); Brazil (April 2012); the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Korea (March 2013); western Europe (June 2014); and eastern Canada (March 2014). Those trade missions resulted in agreements calling for consumers in other countries to purchase more than $9.7 billion in Missouri goods over the next few years.

In addition, earlier this month a Missouri delegation led by the First Lady traveled to Cuba on a historic trade mission to further the sale of Missouri agricultural products. The Missouri team was the first U.S. state trade delegation to visit Cuba since the announcement by President Obama in December that the U.S. was working to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

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