Governor Ned Lamont | Photo via Facebook
HARTFORD, CT—A delegation of officials from Connecticut, led by Governor Ned Lamont, will leave today, July 15, for an economic development mission in Germany. They will meet with the leadership of several German-based companies to discuss expanding their businesses in Connecticut. The delegation will be in Germany until July 19, 1013.
While in Germany, the delegation will hold meetings in Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin with executives of companies with existing operations in Connecticut or seeking to expand their operations to North America. In addition to Governor Lamont, the delegation includes Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Connecticut Innovations CEO Matt McCooe, and AdvanceCT CEO John Bourdeaux.
In addition to Lamont, the delegation includes Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Connecticut Innovations CEO Matt McCooe, and AdvanceCT CEO John Bourdeaux.
According to the Lamont administration, Germany is Connecticut’s largest export market. In 2023, the state exported $2.1 billion in goods to Germany, representing 13% of the state’s total goods exports. Additionally, Germany ranks as Connecticut’s number one source of foreign direct investment.
“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,” 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.”
Bourdeaux said more than 100 German companies have operations in Connecticut. “Last year, we announced four German expansions and new operations in Connecticut that created more than 300 new jobs, $87 million in capital expenditures, and more than 309,000 square feet of new facilities,” he added.
“We have more than 100 German companies with operations in Connecticut,” Bourdeaux said. “Last year, we announced four German expansions and new operations in Connecticut that created more than 300 new jobs, $87 million in capital expenditures, and more than 309,000 square feet of new facilities. Germany is a key market for us, and German companies are the third highest source of foreign employment in our state, representing more than 12,400 jobs. This visit will cultivate the relationships with our existing companies to keep them while developing new opportunities for our state.”
The delegation will also attend a networking event hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
— With Ricky Rillera/PDM
