Governor to meet with business and government leaders during trade mission to province of Alberta
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced he will lead a delegation of state officials to the Canadian province of Alberta next week, from Aug. 16 through Aug. 19, to further increase exports and create jobs in Missouri. Canada is Missouri’s largest export market and purchased more than $4.7 billion in Missouri goods last year.
The province of Alberta is one of Canada’s most prosperous provinces, with strong energy, agriculture and technology industries. In meetings with business and government leaders, the Governor will seek to increase Missouri exports to Canada and further strengthen opportunities for additional investments by Canadian companies in Missouri.
“The more goods we export abroad, the more jobs we create here at home and that’s why I’ve made it a priority to market the ‘Made in Missouri’ brand worldwide,” Gov. Nixon said. “Canada is Missouri’s leading export partner, and an ideal market to continue to boost exports of the products Missouri businesses and farmers produce. Canadian businesses have also made Missouri a leading location for investment and I look forward to expanding our reputation as a state with skilled workers and a business-friendly climate.”
Joining Gov. Nixon on the trade mission will be First Lady Georganne Nixon and Mike Downing, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. During the visit, the Governor will meet with government officials and business leaders, and participate in a conference of energy industry executives and stakeholders.
Gov. Nixon is also scheduled to meet with the leadership of the Canadian division of Burns & McDonnell, the design and construction firm headquartered in Kansas City. Last year, the Governor helped break ground on Burns & McDonnell’s $109.2 million expansion in Kansas City, which is expected to create 2,100 jobs and bring the company’s total Kansas City workforce to 4,700.
Missouri’s top exports to Canada in 2014 were transportation equipment ($2.08 billion); chemicals ($657 million); machinery ($438 million); and food products ($392 million).
The Governor, First Lady, and members of Missouri delegation will arrive in Edmonton on Sunday, Aug. 16. The group will travel to Calgary on Monday, Aug. 17 and then Banff on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The group will return to Missouri on Wednesday, Aug. 19. 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.
Increasing exports has been a central focus of Gov. Nixon’s efforts to create jobs and grow Missouri’s economy. The Governor’s Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth recommended developing a “Best in Class” foreign trade initiative and since taking office Gov. Nixon has led successful trade missions to China, Brazil, Korea, Europe, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and eastern Canada closing agreements to sell nearly $10 billion in Missouri goods.
In February, First Lady Georganne Nixon led a Missouri trade delegation to Havana, Cuba, which was the first by any U.S. state since President Barack Obama announced the U.S. was normalizing relations with Cuba. In 2013, Gov. Nixon launched Export Missouri to help more Missouri companies, and especially small businesses, find new customers and sell their products in overseas markets.
For more information about expanding export opportunities for Missouri businesses, visit www.mo.gov.
