Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recently returned from a successful economic development trip to Germany and Switzerland, where he met with companies already established in the state and established ties with others looking to invest in the U.S. The response to the trip was overwhelmingly positive, with Beshear stating that they were able to keep jobs intact and may see expansions or new locations as a result. This was Beshear’s first overseas economic development trip as governor, but he revealed plans to arrange a similar trip to Japan and South Korea in the future.
Beshear has been touting Kentucky’s record pace of economic development growth during his time in office, with over 1,000 private sector projects announced, totaling $30.6 billion and creating more than 52,700 jobs. He credits this surge in economic development to business-friendly policies enacted by lawmakers in the state. During his recent trip, Beshear and his team made pitches to over 100 companies that employ over 15,000 Kentuckians across 80 facilities in the state.
As part of his travels, Beshear visited more than 25 companies that employ thousands of Kentuckians, with 10 of these companies having North American headquarters in the state. Germany has been a significant investor in Kentucky, with over 90 companies operating in the state. Beshear emphasized the importance of recognizing and thanking these companies for creating jobs in Kentucky. He mentioned that he would have undertaken economic development trips abroad sooner had it not been for the series of crises that impacted the state during his first term, including the global pandemic, tornadoes, and flooding.
The governor highlighted the importance of American manufacturing in times of global turmoil, stressing the need for the United States to produce what it needs for national security. Beshear expressed his commitment to ensuring that the country can take care of its own, especially in the face of global uncertainties and conflicts. The economic development trip to Germany and Switzerland aimed to strengthen ties with existing partners and attract new investments to Kentucky, with the hope of creating more jobs and opportunities for the state’s residents. Overall, the trip was seen as a success, and plans are already in motion for future economic development trips to other countries.
