Governor Phil Bredesen will be leaving this weekend on a trade mission to China. Tennessee was ranked as the nation’s fourth largest export state to China last year, shipping goods like cotton, chemicals and electronics.
The Governor says Tennessee will also open an economic development office in Beijing to show China how serious the state is about trade with the country.
“A number of people from around the state who are experts on China told us if you can build relationships at the government level that are not just protocol but they’re built around mutual interests, that can be a huge benefit when it comes to commercial interest as well.”
Bredesen is taking 78 people to China with him, most are business and state government officials. He says it is the largest trade delegation going to the country this year.
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