LANSING – Following a series of meetings over the weekend with a variety of business and government officials, Governor Rick Snyder on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade’s automotive unit.
While Snyder promoted Michigan throughout all his stops as a place to do business, visit and live, he also urged automotive-related companies in China to consider locating in Michigan.
“With 70 percent of global automotive research and development happening here in Michigan, and our strong manufacturing base, talent and business-friendly environment, there is no better place in North America for Chinese companies to expand than in Michigan,” Snyder said.
The state has started to see significant investment from Chinese firms, but “this is just the beginning of what we have to offer the China market,” Snyder said in a release.
The memorandum of understanding establishes that there will be a U.S.-China Automotive Forum conducted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation autos office beginning in January with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and then in the alternating auto show in Shanghai and Beijing.
During his fourth trade visit to China, Snyder visited Guangdong Province, the most populous and wealthiest province in the nation, for the first time. He also visited the Liaoning province in the northern region of the country.
Snyder will next travel to Shanghai.
