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IMPORTANT: As of July 1st, 2011, functions once performed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce have been moved to other state agencies and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The former Commerce web site will continue to exist for the next several months as resources are moved to new web site locations. We will make every attempt possible to direct our users to the new locations as web resources are moved.
Bureau of Export Development
PO Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970
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Vol. 9 #1, September 2009
State of Wisconsin Trade Mission in Asia
Governor Jim Doyle led a State of Wisconsin Trade Mission to Japan and
China that departed on September 10. After participating in the
41st Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest U.S.-Japan and Japan-Midwest
U.S. Associations in Tokyo, the Governor and the delegation traveled to
Harbin (the capital of Wisconsin’s Chinese sister-state of Heilongjiang
Province), Beijing, and Shanghai. The Governor returned to
Wisconsin on September 23. The trade mission is designed to
provide participants with opportunities to meet with distributors,
potential customers, and key business and government officials.
The Governor also promoted investment in Wisconsin by meeting with
Japanese and Chinese business executives.
"This trade mission will help raise Wisconsin's visibility in these
important markets and provide an opportunity for our state's businesses
to learn about opportunities and forge relationships that could lead to
future sales," Governor Doyle said. "Japan and China are among
Wisconsin's most important export markets. On the mission,
businesses will gain firsthand knowledge of these markets and develop
sound export strategies."
One of the highlights of the stop in Japan was the dedication of a
TomoTherapy Hi-Art system at Edogawa Hospital in Tokyo.
Madison-based TomoTherapy’s Hi-Art system is one of the world’s most
advanced and versatile radiation therapy systems helping university
research centers, hospitals and cancer treatment centers treat a wide
variety of cancer types. Edogawa Hospital is just the second
hospital in Japan to install two of these medical devices.
While in China, Governor Doyle signed a renewal of the Sister-State
Agreement between Wisconsin and Heilongjiang that was first signed in
1982 with his Chinese counterpart, Governor Li Zhanshu of
Heilongjiang. The intent of the agreement is to promote
cooperation and exchanges in cultural, economic, educational,
scientific, sports, technical, tourist, trade and other fields with a
view to promoting the prosperity and well-being of both the Province of
Heilongjiang and the State of Wisconsin.
In 2008, Japan ranked as Wisconsin's fifth-largest customer, with exports totaling $724.4 million, a 10.6% increase over 2007.
China has weathered the international recession quite well and is
predicting economic growth of 8% in 2009, thanks in part to the Chinese
government’s internal stimulus plan, which targets infrastructure
projects coupled with a push for banks to increase lending and dramatic
tax breaks for businesses. China is Wisconsin's third-largest
customer with exports totaling $1.2 billion in 2008, a 4.4% increase
over 2007.
Wisconsin firms interested in sales opportunities in Japan or China can
contact the Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s Asia Specialist, Ms.
Beng Yeap, beng.yeap@wisconsin.gov, (608) 266-1480.
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