Missouri Gov. Mike Parson continued his trade mission tour across Europe this week, making stops in France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Parson left for his first trip to Europe as Missouri’s chief executive last week in an effort to bolster the Show-Me State to potential new businesses.
While in Europe, Parson has spent significant time at the Paris Airshow, where he and his wife met with Jamie McCourt, the U.S. ambassador to France; and Isabelle Hudon, the Candian ambassador to France.
Additionally, Parson met with representatives from Boeing, the Leonard DRS CEO, the head of GKN Aerospace supplier, and a bevy of other Missouri innovators at the airshow.
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In Germany, the governor met with Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer, as well as with executives from Henkel.
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And in Switzerland, Parson met with representatives from Swiss Re. On social media, the governor noted Missouri’s Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration works with the company and just opened a new location in Kansas City.
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He also toured ABB facilities in Switzerland. Parson said the company employs more than 700 people in Jefferson City as well as more than 200 in St. Louis.
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And on Friday, Parson met with Nestle representatives. He noted the company employs thousands of people in Missouri — and officials recognized the St. Louis Blues during their meeting.
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Despite his European trip, Parson weighed in on state health officials’ decision not to renew a St. Louis Planned Parenthood’s facility license to perform abortions Friday.
“If you don’t provide a standard of care that ensures the safety of women, you shouldn’t be allowed to operate. It’s that simple,” Parson said.
He also addressed the 2019 APSE conference earlier this week.
Parson will remain in Europe with the first lady once the trade mission is completed for a vacation. He is expected to cede power to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe — a Republican whom Parson appointed when he took over as Missouri’s chief executive — during that portion of the trip, The Missouri Times has confirmed.
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.
