State officials close $200M export deal with Chinese delegates

Delegates with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China were in Jefferson City Friday to sign a $200 million export and investment agreement with Missouri officials.

The deal, penned by David Kerr, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and Xu Bin, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur, would increase Missouri exports to China's largest provincial-level administrative region 2012-14, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Jay Nixon, who witnessed the signing.

"This agreement will open new export opportunities for Missouri businesses in China and help create more jobs here at home," Nixon said in the release. "My administration will continue to work aggressively to help Missouri businesses sell more goods overseas and create new job opportunities in the Show-Me State."

During the governor's October trade mission to China, he closed $200 million in similar export and investment agreements with the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang and Hebei. The Missouri delegation's Oct. 21-29 trip to the country resulted in roughly $4.6 billion in trade agreements.

The newest agreement, Nixon said, is a direct result of the October trade trip.

"I am committed to working closely with leaders at every level and in countries around the world to increase the export of Missouri goods and to keep our economy moving forward," Nixon said in the release.  "These agreements are another solid step in that direction."


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