Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno Hosted U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk for Export Roundtable

News Release – State of New Jersey Office of the Governor

Trenton, NJ – Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno held a roundtable with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk and New Jersey business leaders in Newark yesterday to discuss efforts aimed at increasing export businesses in New Jersey.

The roundtable was a part of the Christie Administration’s ongoing efforts to increase our import-export capacity, as well as additional trade investment opportunities in New Jersey.  In the last month, the Administration has announced a number of actions that will encourage increased import-export capacity, including a memorandum of understanding agreement between the Economic Development Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  for shared trade offices covering the Greater China and the European market, the investment of $1 billion dollars into modernizing the Bayonne Bridge, and the Global Business Advocacy department in the Business Action Center hosting upwards of fifteen different foreign delegations and trading partners in New Jersey. New Jersey is currently the 11th largest exporter in the United States, last year with over $ 27.5 billion in export sales

The Ambassador’s visit was part of a 50-state outreach by the Obama Administration to state and business leaders to solicit feedback on enhancing U.S. exports.  Included among the topics discussed were the National Export Initiative, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and the creation of new opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises.

“Yesterday’s conversation was part of a number of important initiatives our Administration is undertaking to ensure New Jersey stays a leader in the ever growing global economy, said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.  “I was pleased to introduce Ambassador Kirk to businesses already involved in exporting, as well as others that are in a prime position to begin exporting.  We realize the importance of expanding international trade and that’s why the Office of Global Business Advocacy will play such a vital role in our new Business Action Center.  New Jersey can be a strategic partner in doubling our nation’s exports in the next five years, a key topic discussed during the roundtable.

“I was pleased to be in Newark yesterday, with Lt. Gov. Guadagno and business leaders from across New Jersey. The roundtable at PSE&G was a welcome opportunity to hear the positive steps New Jersey is taking to increase its exports and create well-paying jobs”, said Ambassador Kirk. “The message I heard from these companies highlights the reason that the Obama Administration is focused on doubling exports from the United States in five years. The bottom line is that as USTR pushes to open new markets, New Jersey companies will be able to create more products and services at home and sell them to customers around the world. That’s how we put Americans back to work.”

The roundtable was hosted at PSE&G in Newark and attended by various industry sectors, including food manufacturers, shipping companies, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy firms among others.

Attached is a cropped photo for media use along with below caption information: (From Left to right) Chao Xu of COSCO Americas, Inc., Ralph Izzo of PSEG, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Ambassador Ron Kirk, Dennis Bone of Verizon, and Scott Buttler of CUH2A during a roundtable on increasing New Jersey’s exporting capacity  at PSE&G Headquarters in Newark, NJ on October 21, 2010.