Gov. Dannel Malloy traveled to China on Saturday, where he will participate in the World Economic Forum Summit and meet with business leaders.
Malloy announced last month during a meeting with a delegation of officials from Guangdong Province that he had accepted an invitation to participate in the summit and make a stop in Connecticut’s sister province, Shandong, to explore other economic opportunities.
Catherine Smith, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, is also attending.
The state is paying for the trip and it is expected to cost less than $20,000, according to the Malloy administration.
Malloy’s trip will be through Sept. 16 and he expects to meet with business leaders and officials, including a group of bioscience companies and other technology companies.
“Every day I wake up, I’m focused on figuring out different ways to create good-paying jobs with good benefits for Connecticut residents,” Malloy said. “To that end, while it sounds like a worn out cliché, we truly do live in a global economy. When we recently announced the creation of a new multinational corporation that will be based in North Haven, I hope it sent a message to companies around the world that Connecticut is not only an alternative, but a prime place to grow and expand, and to create the kinds of good jobs we need here.”
Malloy is visiting Beijing, Tianjin and Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province.
“If there’s one thing that’s a given in the 21st century economy, it’s that China will be a leading player on the world stage,” continued Governor Malloy. “I want to use this opportunity to do two things: convince Chinese companies that Connecticut is a great place to establish a presence in the United States, and let the Chinese know that Connecticut-based companies are ready and willing to do business with them too.
“As I made clear from the day I took office, I’m working hard to put Connecticut back on the map, and not just here in the United States – but everywhere.”
Malloy is the first Connecticut Governor to go to China since William O’Neill in 1987, according to Malloy’s administration.
