Pence Leads Trade Mission To China

Gov. Mike Pence this week is working to gain more business from China - he’s on his sixth trade mission since taking office.  

China is Indiana’s fifth largest trading partner, generating $1.4 billion for the Hoosier State last year.  And some of the state’s biggest companies – including Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly and Cummins – have Chinese operations.  Pence says his economic development officials believe China is looking to invest more in North America, and that his trip is aimed at giving Indiana an advantage.

“Look, we’re a low-tax state, got another balanced budget, we’re a Right to Work state, we obviously have the best workforce in the United States of America," Pence said. "But what I’ve learned in my other foreign trips is that getting in front of those decision-makers, telling Indiana’s story, can make a real difference and it can mean investment and jobs in the Hoosier State going forward.”

Pence left for east Asia Saturday and will return the 16th. The trip is paid for through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.