AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry departs tomorrow for a one week economic development trip to Japan and China. While in Asia, the governor will work to expand economic opportunities for Texas starting with a speech on Monday to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. He will then lead an economic development delegation of state and business leaders to Beijing, and on Friday take part in a panel discussion on global economic issues at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China.
Gov. Perry’s trip will build on Texas’ strong record of job creation. Since 2001, Texas employers have created more than one third of the new private sector jobs in the United States.
“Texas is thriving today because of an open and optimistic attitude that prioritizes growth and respects the entrepreneurial spirit of Japanese and Chinese companies,” said Gov. Perry. “We are very proud that so many Asian firms have chosen to grow in Texas, and in a big state filled with opportunity there’s always room for more.”
The World Economic Forum provides a unique opportunity to meet with companies interested in expansion to the U.S., and to attract jobs and foreign direct investment to the Lone Star State. Gov. Perry attended the forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January.
Japan was Texas’ 10th largest export market in 2013, with exports totaling about $5 billion, an increase of 8.62% from 2012. Japan was also Texas’ 10th largest source of imports in 2013, with $6.7 billion in products imported from Japan. Japanese companies have invested $5 billion in Texas and created more than 7,000 local jobs since 2003, and Japan was the fourth largest source of foreign direct investment in Texas between 2009 and 2013.
China was Texas’ fourth-largest export destination in 2013, with $10.8 billion in exports, including industrial and electric machinery, chemicals, plastics and mineral fuel. That same year, Texas imported $42.8 billion in Chinese goods, the second-highest total among our trading partners.
The governor’s trip will be paid for by TexasOne and Americans for Economic Freedom. No state tax dollars will be used for the governor’s travel and accommodations on this trip. For more information about Gov. Perry’s schedule while he is in Asia, please contact the Governor’s Press Office.
The Texas economic development, tourism and business delegation is as follows:
Gov. Rick Perry
Texas Secretary of State Nandita Berry
TexasOne Chair Leslie Ward
Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism Division
Rep. Jason Villalba
Americans for Economic Freedom
FosterQuan
McKinney Economic Development Corp.
Pflugerville Community Development Corp.
Texas Lone Star Enterprises LLC
U.S. China Partnerships
Yates Construction
YTexas
