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Pritzker was responding to questions from reporters in his
Statehouse office after signing a “memorandum of understanding,”
or MOU, regarding trade between Illinois and the United Kingdom.
MOUs are nonbinding agreements that outline how the parties
intend to work together.
The signing ceremony in the governor’s office was largely
ceremonial because terms of the MOU were originally agreed to
during Pritzker’s trade mission to the U.K. in 2023.
“This action will inspire greater dialogue, cooperation and
innovation on issues of critical importance to both of our
nations, from climate change to infectious disease controls to
sustainable agriculture,” Pritzker said. “It will strengthen our
existing lines of trade and investment while expanding into new
ventures in each of our emerging high growth sectors, advanced
manufacturing, life sciences, finance, clean energy and beyond.”
Joining in the ceremony was U.K. Consul General Richard Hyde,
who said he sees particular opportunities for Illinois to work
with the U.K. on the development of smaller-scale nuclear power
generation, where the British firm Rolls-Royce has been a
leader.
“Excuse me for lobbying governor, and I promised you I wouldn’t,
but you know, Illinois has adopted a standard and definition of
small and small-modular reactors, which we think is a little old
fashioned,” he said. “We’d love to open it up, like other states
are doing around you, so that Rolls-Royce can come and bring
their technology into Illinois and drive forward small-modular
reactors and more decarbonization, a more safe nuclear power to
your state.”
In 2024, according to the governor’s office, Illinois exported
more than $2.6 billion worth of goods to the U.K., making it the
state’s eighth-largest export partner. Exports from Illinois
include chemicals, computer products and manufactured and
fabricated metal products. British firms, meanwhile, employ
about 96,000 people in Illinois.
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funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert
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