(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today announced preliminary plans for the state’s second reverse trade mission. The Reverse Trade Mission will be held Sept. 7 through Sept. 11 in conjunction with the Nebraska Diplomats Passport to Nebraska Weekend.

Gov. Heineman said, “Nebraska has remained in much better economic shape than most countries, in part to our continued efforts in trade and jobs creation.”

The “Bringing the World to Nebraska” Mission will emphasize the food, energy, and water industries, targeting many countries, including China and numerous European nations. The Governor is planning to host around 75 international guests.

The State is focused on foreign direct investment and creation of new export opportunities. From 2005-2010, exports increased from $3 billion to $5.8 billion. Exports to China, in particular increased from $111 million in 2005 to $279 million in 2010 - nearly 150 percent in five years. China now ranks as Nebraska’s fourth largest trading partner behind Canada, Mexico and Japan, and followed by Australia. More than 350 foreign-owned businesses employ more than 19,000 workers in Nebraska, with international trade directly sustaining more than 56,000 jobs and creating more than $5 billion in new yearly revenue.

The Reverse Trade Mission is expected to involve CEOs and company executives with particular business expertise matched to specific goals and opportunities available with Nebraska-based companies.

The 2008 Reverse Trade Mission resulted in a number of partnering opportunities between Nebraska, China and Japan, including:

• A joint venture was announced between China’s HRC Energy and Nebraska’s Behlen Mfg. Co. related to renewable energy and HVAC systems.

• Easyway International, a Chinese logistics and import/export company set up operations in LaVista and is looking to be at around 20 employees within the year and possibly up to 40 by the end of next year. Before attending the 2008 RTM, the company had decided on Vancouver for its North American headquarters. After their visit to Nebraska, they decided to locate their North American Headquarters here.

• The Shanghai SME Center for International Cooperation signed a partnership agreement with the state.  The association made up of 3,000 businesses in the Greater Shanghai area was looking to find one partner state in the U.S. Impressed with the RTM and the state, they now promote and encourage Shanghai-area businesses to consider Nebraska for trade and investment opportunities. They plan to send a group of business leaders to this year’s RTM. 

• Close to 30 one-on-one and small group meetings with more than 60 representatives from Nebraska and international companies took place during the original Reverse Trade Mission.

• Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan, which joined the 2008 RTM to look for business and educational ties between their prefecture and Nebraska ultimately linked the University of Shizuoka with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They have since signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on food-related research. UNL is University of Shizuoka’s only such partner in the U.S.  A key focus of this relationship will be to expand food processing in both Shizuoka and Nebraska by way of R&D, technology transfer, market entry assistance, product development, and export growth.

• A Japanese company on the original Reverse Trade Mission is currently evaluating the market for various technologies and products and technologies developed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

• Sales of non-GMO soybeans were made to a Japanese company as a direct result of the RTM.

• The arrangement for a young Japanese student to work at UNL is just the first step to a potential expanding relationship between RIKEN-Japan and the University of Nebraska, which could possibly involve the new Innovation Research Park in the future.

Through the years, Nebraska has built an extensive network of interconnected partnerships to undertake projects and endeavors, and this event is no different. The following organizations are working to bring the State’s second Reverse Trade Mission to the world stage: the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Diplomats, Nebraska Economic Developers Association, Nebraska Food Processing Center, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, University of Nebraska, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber/Economic Development Partnership, Nebraska Logistics Council/Nebraska Trucking Association, Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, and Mainfreight Inc., among numerous businesses.

Additional information on the reverse trade mission is available online at http://www.WorldToNebraska.com.

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