October 27, 2009

Governor Riley Meets with Former President of India, Announces Economic Development Mission

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley announced Tuesday he will lead a delegation of Alabama state and business leaders on an economic development mission to India in May.

“This economic development mission to India will be an outstanding opportunity for Alabama companies to meet their customers and to find new ones. When an Alabama company finds a customer in a growing market like India, they create jobs in Alabama through exports. There’s a tremendous market in India for everything that’s made in Alabama,” Governor Riley said.

Before making the announcement, the Governor met with India’s former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at the State Capitol. Dr. Kalam served as India’s president from 2002-2007 and is touring Alabama this week. He and Governor Riley spoke about strengthening trade and investment ties between India and Alabama.

Exports from Alabama to India are increasing. Between January and August of this year, the value of Alabama’s exports to India totaled $95 million. That’s almost as much as the state exported to India in all of 2008 -- $99 million. In 2007, the state’s exports to India were $75 million.

The state’s top exports to India are chemicals, chemical products, plastics, automobiles and electrical machinery.

“The pace of our trade and investment relationship with India is accelerating and the potential exits for much more,” Governor Riley said. “We want to promote and advance this relationship and bring new opportunities to citizens both in Alabama and in India.”

In addition to meeting with Governor Riley, Dr. Kalam is making several other stops in Alabama. Earlier on Tuesday he met with university leaders at Alabama State University. He will later meet with university officials and students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. On Wednesday, Dr. Kalam will tour the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.