 "We are experiencing a national economic slowdown, which has made
trade critical to helping stabilize the economy. Illinois companies
are being more resourceful and taking advantage of the demand for
their products overseas. By exporting more goods, we are creating
better jobs for more people here at home," said Blagojevich.The
$48.73 billion the state exported in 2007 was an increase of $6.65
billion over 2006 and a nearly 36 percent increase over 2005.
Illinois exports have increased close to 90 percent over the 2002
export figure of $25.69 billion. Illinois is now the nation's
fifth-ranked exporting state, behind only Texas, California, New
York and Washington. Direct exports accounted for 7.1 percent of the
gross state product in 2006.
Top countries for Illinois' exports are Canada, Mexico, Germany,
Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, China (mainland),
Belgium and Brazil. Top sectors are machinery, computers and
electronic products and equipment, transportation equipment,
chemicals, and agricultural, food and kindred products.
"Illinois has seen record increases in trade over the past few
years. This is great news because it means the Illinois economy is
healthy. The state will continue to seek new opportunities to expand
our presence overseas and promote Illinois products and services in
the global market," said Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin.
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is charged
with enhancing Illinois' economic competitiveness by providing
technical and financial assistance to businesses, local governments,
workers and families. As the state's lead economic development
agency, the department works to capitalize on Illinois' strengths as
a center of transportation, manufacturing and technology
development.
The department's Office of Trade and Investment is Illinois' lead
office in helping to retain and create Illinois jobs by assisting
Illinois firms and organizations in forming international
partnerships that will expand Illinois exports and increase foreign
direct investment. The trade office accomplishes its mission through
its global network of trade and investment offices, anchored by the
Chicago headquarters office. Its offices worldwide are located in
Brussels, Delhi, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Toronto,
Mexico City, Shanghai and Warsaw.
Under the Blagojevich administration, Illinois was the first
Midwestern state to establish a trade and investment office in
India, to assist Illinois firms in one of the world's largest, most
promising and expanding markets. This new office strengthens
Illinois' ability to continue delivering aggressive and proactive
programs to seek export opportunities for Illinois companies in the
key growth markets like India and China.
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The state Office of Trade and Investment offers a variety of export
development assistance programs to help Illinois companies identify
new markets and locate distribution channels for their products and
services abroad, including trade missions to targeted foreign
markets. Trade missions provide small and medium-sized companies in
Illinois with an avenue to export their products and services by
directly engaging foreign buyers, agents, distributors and
joint-venture partners and providing additional in-country support.
Under Blagojevich, the Office of Trade and Investment has led a
total of 59 foreign trade missions, more than any other
administration. These missions have hosted close to 300 participants
and have included high-profile trade missions to China and India as
well as missions to Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Israel,
Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain and South Africa.
The Office of Trade and Investment is also working to attract
essential foreign direct investment to Illinois through a host of
promotional activities, including seminars and reverse trade
missions. Thirty-two foreign direct investment programs have already
taken place this fiscal year and included Canada, China, Europe,
India, Israel and Japan. Illinois currently ranks first in the
Midwest in foreign direct investment. Through strategic promotional
seminars overseas and domestically, the Office of Trade and
Investment is continuing to establish foreign investment in Illinois
and helping to create more Illinois jobs.
Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development
strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating
jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to
economic development just doesn't work, the governor has divided the
state into 10 regions, each with a regional team that is empowered
and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.
Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each
region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and
more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of
the local work force, increasing the access to capital, opening new
markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.
Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies
and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach
its economic potential.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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