LANSING – Details of Governor Rick Snyder’s first trade mission are starting to be released as the governor will be the first Michigan chief executive to visit China since former Governor John Engler.
Former Governor Jennifer Granholm made several trade trips to Japan and South Korea, but never to China. That drew criticism from some that the lack of such a trip was not in keeping with her pledge to “go anywhere” to bring jobs to Michigan. China had been the focus on much Democratic and union criticism, especially of her 2006 opponent Dick DeVos.
But Snyder will visit both Beijing and Shanghai during the trip that will start in Japan and conclude in Korea.
Administration officials had said back in June that Snyder would travel to Asia for his first trade mission, but there were no details at the time. And information about who will accompany Snyder was still not released.
But Snyder is to leave September 25 for Tokyo for an annual meeting of the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association and the Japan-Midwest U.S. Association. From there he will travel on September 27 to Beijing where he will meet with corporate executives and take part in a reception.
He then will travel to Shanghai on September 29 for more meetings and another reception before going to Seoul on September 30.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
a>>
