Good morning. It is my distinct honor, on behalf of Governor Martin O’Malley and all the people of our state, to welcome you to today’s conference. This is an exciting day.
Last month, I had the privilege to visit China and meet with many of China’s business and government leaders to further enhance the business relationships between our state and your country. China is Maryland’s 8th largest export market and our 7th largest import origin market. There are more than 75 Maryland-headquartered businesses with physical operations in China, including Black and Decker, Perdue Farms, Discovery Channel, Marriott, and Middle River Aircraft. And, our Department of Business and Economic Development continues to work on the ground in China to develop more and more business opportunities between China and Maryland.
In fact, the Maryland-China Center is the oldest, largest and most extensive and successful business development office in China of any of the 50 United States. Last year alone, that Center and the Department of Business and Economic Development played a crucial role in over $30 million worth of Maryland exports to your country. And it was my great privilege to tour that facility and meet and speak with many Chinese business and government leaders.
The cooperation between our state and your country extends beyond our governments. Johns Hopkins University became the first American university to establish a permanent college education program in China – the Hopkins Nan-Jing Center...
A year later, Maryland-headquartered chemicals company, WR Grace, became the first wholly foreign-owned company to establish physical operations in China. And in 1998, then-President Clinton witnessed the signing ceremony in which Baltimore architecture firm, RTKL, was awarded the design of the stunning Shanghai Science and Technology Musuem.
Our partnership exists here in Maryland, too. In 2006, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology launched it’s first and only international research park in the United States at the University of Maryland. Many of our colleges and universities, including the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, Towson University and Loyola College of Maryland, have extensive operations in China. And, Maryland has a long-standing sister-state relationship with Anhui Province.
There have, indeed, been many successes and we look forward to witnessing many more...
Our partnership in the global economy is indeed strong. On my visit to your country, Maryland signed an MOU that promotes investment of Chinese businesses in Maryland. It was the first MOU of its kind – an agreement that encourages Chinese FDI into Maryland. And I feel very strongly that Chinese investors, including many in this room, will find great opportunities in our state.
Maryland is a unique State with a rich history. We are one of the original 13 colonies and the birthplace to our National Anthem. And while we take pride in our past and our role in the founding and success of our Nation, we also hold a great deal of pride in our future. Pride, because we know that our success as a state, comes from our ability to work closely in the global marketplace with partners not just from our own state and nation, but from across the world.
And that ability is well reflected in our strengths.
We are the wealthiest State in America and we boast the second-most educated workforce in the country. We are home to more Ph. Ds and doctoral scientists than any other state except one. We have one of the most competitive, most successful and busiest biotech and lifesciences corridors in the West. The U.S. Federal Government has 50 agencies headquartered in Maryland and invests $12 billion in research and design in our state annually. And we have the fifth largest Chinese-speaking community in the U.S.
Beyond our economic accomplishments, Governor O’Malley and I understand the importance of building a workforce for the future. So to help us ensure that our employers and the companies that invest in Maryland have an able, healthy, trained and mobile workforce to succeed, we’re investing in education – investments that will benefit students of all ages and students from Maryland and around the world. This past year, we invested $400 million in school construction and increased funding for K-12 education by $580 million as part of a larger, long-term public education funding boost. To date, that program, the Bridge to Academic Excellence, has raised scores in math and reading at every grade level.
We recognize that an education doesn’t stop in high school and that learning is a lifelong pursuit. So, we increased funding for higher education: $113 million for the University System to freeze tuition and make it more affordable for more Marylanders;17 percent more funding for community colleges.
Our higher education communities are the envy of the Nation. We have nationally ranked programs in engineering and science and world-renowned medical schools and research campuses. And these schools are forming relationships with the local business communities to enhance the innovation of our colleges and our economy.
This is an exciting time – exciting for the promise of a bright future.
So let me close with a final thought. Our goal when we visited your country was two-fold – to advocate on behalf of Maryland companies in China and to promote the growth of Chinese FDI into Maryland.
Our State, as many of you know, has the assets – location, workforce, complementary industry strengths, infrastructure and certainly the best China operation of any of the 50 United States – all of which a Chinese company can tap into to grow and prosper in the U.S. market. Under the mandate of China’s ‘Going Global’ initiative, Chinese companies are being encouraged to do just this: establish businesses in the mature markets of the United States, Europe and Japan.
Where better to do this than in Maryland, which is the wealthiest state in the world’s largest economy.
We look forward to a growing relationship between Maryland and China… and I hope you take advantage of the many opportunities this conference offers.
Thank you. Shea-shea Knee-men