Riley Leads International Jobs Mission

June 19, 2006

MONTGOMERY – Seeking to expand Alabama’s economic ties to some of the world’s largest emerging consumer markets, Governor Bob Riley announced Thursday he is leading three parallel business development missions to China, South Korea and the United Kingdom in July. About 100 Alabama business leaders will join the Governor during portions of his trip to help him market the state to potential aviation, automotive and biotechnology partners around the world.

The three nations – China, the United Kingdom and South Korea – are Alabama’s fifth, sixth and seventh largest trading partners, respectively.

"Alabama is now a major player on the world economic stage and I believe this trip will result in more opportunities for our businesses and more jobs for our citizens,” said Governor Riley.

“As we continually seek ways to strengthen Alabama’s economy, we must expand the opportunities for our businesses to export to foreign markets and the opportunities to build relationships throughout the world,” Governor Riley said. “When our companies are able to compete fairly in foreign markets, they create new jobs in Alabama. This mission to some of our top export markets will help us capitalize on growing commercial possibilities.”

Governor Riley will begin the 11-day economic development mission in China on July 8, where he will become the first Alabama governor since Governor George Wallace in 1984 to visit China. There, Governor Riley will help Alabama companies explore new marketing potential for their products and services.

The Governor will be accompanied in China by about 30 Alabama entrepreneurs and researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. In China, the Governor will hold meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt and other government officials. Governor Riley will also focus on building relationships between Chinese researchers and UAB at a biotechnology forum in the province of Hubei. Alabama has had a sister state relationship with the Hubei province since Governor Wallace signed an agreement in the early 1980s.

Also in Hubei, Governor Riley will visit two universities that have formed relationships with the University of Alabama and Auburn University – the Chinese University of Geosciences and the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences – to discuss further partnership opportunities.

Later, the Governor will tour China’s Dongfeng auto manufacturing plant, one of the countries growing domestic car producers, and the National Research and Engineering Center for Biotechnology in Nanjing. “Both the tour of Dongfeng and our focus on biotechnology will help us build contacts between Alabama’s growing automotive and biotech industries and China’s,” said Governor Riley.

Governor Riley will leave China for Seoul, South Korea on July 13. There he will join about 40 Alabamians as the state hosts an appreciation dinner for Hyundai officials and representatives from the dozens of Korean auto suppliers that have operations in Alabama.

"More than 6,000 Alabamians currently work for Korean automotive companies and I want to express my deep appreciation for their commitment to Alabama," said Governor Riley. "I also plan on meeting with potential suppliers for the new Kia plant. This will put us in an even stronger position to compete for these suppliers and to make sure that Alabama is a significant part of their site selection process."

On July 15, Governor Riley will arrive in London where he will join another Alabama delegation for events surrounding the Farnborough Air Exposition. The Farnborough exposition is the world’s third largest aviation event and will host aerospace companies from around the world. "Alabama is home to the world’s major aviation companies, including Boeing, EADS, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and GKN Aerospace. Farnborough offers a unique opportunity to strengthen those relationships and meet with new companies that are considering expansion into the U.S.," said Governor Riley.

The Alabama delegation will host a reception at Kensington Palace for aviation companies attending the air exposition and Governor Riley will co-host a dinner with EADS/Northrop Grumman for potential suppliers for the KC-30 military tanker aircraft that is planned for assembly in Mobile. Governor Riley and officials with EADS and Northrop Grumman announced last year that the companies will assemble the tanker in Mobile if the joint venture wins the tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force.

Alabama exports to China, the United Kingdom and South Korea have grown considerably since 2001. From 2001 – 2005, Alabama exports to China increased from $210 million to $467 million; to the United Kingdom from $442 million to $466 million; and to South Korea from $127 million to $439 million.

Governor Riley has put a major emphasis on promoting export growth during his time in office. In mid-2004, Governor Riley launched “Export Alabama,” a statewide effort partnering the Alabama Development Office, the Export Alabama Trade Alliance and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to promote the growth of exported goods and services from Alabama companies. Under this initiative, the state has also undertaken trade missions to South America, Germany, Japan and Israel.

From 2004 to 2005, the value of Alabama exports increased by 19 percent, surpassing the national average growth rate of 10.6 percent. Manufactured goods totaling $10.8 billion were shipped from Alabama companies to 181 countries during 2005.

Almost 3,000 businesses in Alabama sell their products overseas, and more than 75 percent are small and medium-size companies. These companies employ nearly 73,000 Alabamians.

MONTGOMERY – Seeking to expand Alabama’s economic ties to some of the world’s largest emerging consumer markets, Governor Bob Riley announced Thursday he is leading three parallel business development missions to China, South Korea and the United Kingdom in July. About 100 Alabama business leaders will join the Governor during portions of his trip to help him market the state to potential aviation, automotive and biotechnology partners around the world.

The three nations – China, the United Kingdom and South Korea – are Alabama’s fifth, sixth and seventh largest trading partners, respectively.

"Alabama is now a major player on the world economic stage and I believe this trip will result in more opportunities for our businesses and more jobs for our citizens,” said Governor Riley.

“As we continually seek ways to strengthen Alabama’s economy, we must expand the opportunities for our businesses to export to foreign markets and the opportunities to build relationships throughout the world,” Governor Riley said. “When our companies are able to compete fairly in foreign markets, they create new jobs in Alabama. This mission to some of our top export markets will help us capitalize on growing commercial possibilities.”

Governor Riley will begin the 11-day economic development mission in China on July 8, where he will become the first Alabama governor since Governor George Wallace in 1984 to visit China. There, Governor Riley will help Alabama companies explore new marketing potential for their products and services.

The Governor will be accompanied in China by about 30 Alabama entrepreneurs and researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. In China, the Governor will hold meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt and other government officials. Governor Riley will also focus on building relationships between Chinese researchers and UAB at a biotechnology forum in the province of Hubei. Alabama has had a sister state relationship with the Hubei province since Governor Wallace signed an agreement in the early 1980s.

Also in Hubei, Governor Riley will visit two universities that have formed relationships with the University of Alabama and Auburn University – the Chinese University of Geosciences and the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences – to discuss further partnership opportunities.

Later, the Governor will tour China’s Dongfeng auto manufacturing plant, one of the countries growing domestic car producers, and the National Research and Engineering Center for Biotechnology in Nanjing. “Both the tour of Dongfeng and our focus on biotechnology will help us build contacts between Alabama’s growing automotive and biotech industries and China’s,” said Governor Riley.

Governor Riley will leave China for Seoul, South Korea on July 13. There he will join about 40 Alabamians as the state hosts an appreciation dinner for Hyundai officials and representatives from the dozens of Korean auto suppliers that have operations in Alabama.

"More than 6,000 Alabamians currently work for Korean automotive companies and I want to express my deep appreciation for their commitment to Alabama," said Governor Riley. "I also plan on meeting with potential suppliers for the new Kia plant. This will put us in an even stronger position to compete for these suppliers and to make sure that Alabama is a significant part of their site selection process."

On July 15, Governor Riley will arrive in London where he will join another Alabama delegation for events surrounding the Farnborough Air Exposition. The Farnborough exposition is the world’s third largest aviation event and will host aerospace companies from around the world. "Alabama is home to the world’s major aviation companies, including Boeing, EADS, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and GKN Aerospace. Farnborough offers a unique opportunity to strengthen those relationships and meet with new companies that are considering expansion into the U.S.," said Governor Riley.

The Alabama delegation will host a reception at Kensington Palace for aviation companies attending the air exposition and Governor Riley will co-host a dinner with EADS/Northrop Grumman for potential suppliers for the KC-30 military tanker aircraft that is planned for assembly in Mobile. Governor Riley and officials with EADS and Northrop Grumman announced last year that the companies will assemble the tanker in Mobile if the joint venture wins the tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force.

Alabama exports to China, the United Kingdom and South Korea have grown considerably since 2001. From 2001 – 2005, Alabama exports to China increased from $210 million to $467 million; to the United Kingdom from $442 million to $466 million; and to South Korea from $127 million to $439 million.

Governor Riley has put a major emphasis on promoting export growth during his time in office. In mid-2004, Governor Riley launched “Export Alabama,” a statewide effort partnering the Alabama Development Office, the Export Alabama Trade Alliance and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to promote the growth of exported goods and services from Alabama companies. Under this initiative, the state has also undertaken trade missions to South America, Germany, Japan and Israel.

From 2004 to 2005, the value of Alabama exports increased by 19 percent, surpassing the national average growth rate of 10.6 percent. Manufactured goods totaling $10.8 billion were shipped from Alabama companies to 181 countries during 2005.

Almost 3,000 businesses in Alabama sell their products overseas, and more than 75 percent are small and medium-size companies. These companies employ nearly 73,000 Alabamians.