Exchange Database

Governor Quinn to Lead Trade Mission to China-- Trip Will Focus on Exports, Foreign Direct Investment, Education and Supporting Emerging Technologies

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn participated in several education and economic agreements during his trade mission to the People's Republic of China in order to expand innovation and trade opportunities between the two regions. These include export contracts in the agriculture and telecom industries; memorandums of understanding between businesses in the biotechnology, clean energy, and education fields; and a "sister river agreement in order to promote pollution control and clean water technology." This is in line with the governor's goal to "double exports and develop innovative new partnerships in emerging technology fields" by 2014.
Outcomes: 
Governor Quinn signed several business educational, and cultural agreements, including a $70 million corn products sales agreement between C&D (USA) Inc., an Illinois-based agricultural export company, and Xiamen C&D Inc.; a sister river agreement between the state of Illinois and the Shanghai Water Association; a sister city agreement between Morton, Ill. and Tiantai County in Zhejiang Province; as well as the 1,000 School Initiative to enhance educational opportunities between the two regions. The governor further signed a memorandum of cooperation in the biotech industry between the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), iBIO, an Illinois-based life sciences industry association, and China-based Shanghai Bio Pharmaceutics Association (SBIA). He also announced intentions to expand Illinois exports to China by opening two American Goods Centers in Shanghai and Beijing come October, an agreement President Hu Jintao had signed earlier that year in Chicago. Then, in order to strengthen business relations between Illinois and China, the governor signed an agreement with Goldwinds USA Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, LTD, to build a wind farm in Illinois; likewise, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), a food production company based in Illinois, entered an agreement with Jiusan Oils and Seeds to meet soybean demand and keep costs consistent for Chinese consumers. (Later in December 2012, Goldwind would sell Shady Oaks Wind Farm, their second wind farm in the U.S., to Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp for $148.9 million, signaling acceptance of the Chinese company's wind technology in the competitive U.S. market.)
Government?: 
Yes
Type of Exchange: 
business
Participants (Types): 
Government officials, Business people, Community leaders
Exchange Date: 
Saturday, September 17, 2011 to Sunday, September 25, 2011
Continuing: 
Yes
Image: 
Level of Government: 
state/provincial
Location: 
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, China
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