This week’s radio address gives us a preview of the companies and industries the governor will visit on her seven-day jobs mission to the Middle East.

Hello. This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

This week, I continue my commitment to go anywhere and do anything to create jobs for Michigan as I embark on my seventh international jobs and investment mission – this time to the Middle East.

With my economic team, I will be traveling to Israel and Jordan to meet with CEOs and leaders in alternative energy, homeland security, water preservation technology, and advanced automotive research – all industries that are primed to invest right here in Michigan. In total, our team will travel to three countries, where we’ll hold 48 meetings to meet with as many as 130 companies.

My pitch to these companies is simple: If you want a world-class workforce, if you want flexible and extensive economic development incentives, if you want a great business climate and outstanding quality of life, then Michigan is your place to invest.

My previous investment missions to Germany, Austria, Japan, and Sweden have resulted in 42 companies announcing over $944 million in new investment and the creation or retention of more than 10,600 jobs here in Michigan.

On this seven-day mission, we will lay the groundwork for new jobs and investment, and there is great opportunity for both in Israel and Jordan. Israel is a world-leader in homeland security and water preservation technology development and has a unique mix of industries that closely parallel the industries we want to grow in Michigan.

To maximize Michigan’s unique opportunity to lead the world in alternative energy development, we will meet with a number of companies who can help us meet that goal, including Project Better Place in Israel, a company building battery-powered vehicles. We’ll meet with Powermat, a high-tech Israeli company bringing efficient wireless electricity to surfaces, including walls, tables, floors and desktops; and we’ll meet with Millennium Solar- a Jordanian company that is using solar energy to power all kinds of devices. I will also meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and several other government officials to promote all that Michigan has to offer to companies creating new energy jobs here.

While in Israel, we will also take a close look at that country’s water re-use technology. Water re-use is a major issue throughout the Middle East due to limited water resources, and Israel has developed innovative ways to make the best use of their short supply. So, Michigan’s location on the Great Lakes makes us the ideal partner to Israel on this issue to create technology jobs here as we protect our own water.

And as our automotive industry leaders continue to make tough decisions in the face of an evolving global economy and massive restructuring, it is critical that we diversify our industrial base. As I have said time and again, Michigan’s economic future depends on the jobs we create, retain, and attract, and that is why I will continue to go anywhere, and do anything to fight for every Michigan worker and every Michigan job.

Thank you for listening.

Here are a few of the other companies and officials the governor’s team will meet with while overseas:

They also will meet with senior representatives from companies such as Perrigo, the world’s largest manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and nutritional products; Inspire Invest, a venture capital company whose portfolio includes Michigan defense firm Burtek Inc.; Senso Optics, a high-tech, electro-optics company that develops and manufactures products for the homeland security, defense and medical device industries; and Multi Gene Vascular Systems, a clinical-stage biotech company.

Additionally, Granholm will meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and other government officials in both Jordan and Israel. The governor is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on water re-use technology with Israeli government officials on Monday. She will also deliver remarks at the second annual Michigan-Israel Business Bridge Automotive Partnership event, where Israeli automotive suppliers and technology companies, including those in the renewable energy sector, will come together to discuss possibilities for expansion in collaboration with Michigan.

Now more than ever, it is so important that we work to bring new energy and other high-growth industries into the state to help diversify Michigan’s economy. Stay tuned for updates from the Middle East mission!

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.