Governor Lamont to lead trade mission to Germany

Governor Ned Lamont will depart for Germany on July 15 for a four-day economic development mission, aiming to attract German businesses to establish a presence in the state.

Germany is already Connecticut’s largest single export market, it was the destination of 13 percent of the state’s total export goods, worth around $2.1 billion. At the same time, no other foreign country has invested more in Connecticut.

Stops are planned in Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart, where the mission will pay visits to companies that have either already established a presence in the state which could be expanded, or that are known to be considering a new North American presence.

Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Connecticut Innovations CEO Matt McCooe, and AdvanceCT CEO John Bourdeaux will also be part of the trade delegation.

“Our objective is to meet with executives that have expressed an interest in expanding their businesses to North America and let them know that Connecticut – with the best-educated and best-trained workforce in the United States – is the ideal location for companies to develop and produce cutting-edge products and services that make businesses thrive,” Governor Lamont said. “We will also be meeting with our existing corporate investors to discuss their continued growth in Connecticut. The competition for this type of foreign investment is intense, and having direct contact with employers is important to showing our commitment to their growth in our state.”