Arizona must continue to market its exports to foreign countries and attract outside investors in order to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on the state’s housing industry, Gov. Janet Napolitano said in her International State of the State Address.
That message was delivered to hundreds attending the event hosted by the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations. The governor also called for continued support of public education, research and development, and attracting manufacturing and service industries.
Canada, China and Korea are also beginning to receive larger amounts of exports from Arizona, joining traditional state trade allies such as Canada and Mexico. Overall, last year the state’s exports rose 22 percent, surpassing growth rates of Texas and California, the governor said.
Business with Mexico is declining, said Napolitano, who called for the establishment of a Mexican seaport to increase Asian imports coming into Arizona and to “take the pressure off” the western port of Long Beach, Calif. Similarly, ports-of-entry at border cities need to be modernized to alleviate bottlenecking of incoming ground shipments, she said.
“It’s simply ridiculous that trucks carrying goods need to wait five or six hours,” said Napolitano, who also addressed Congress’ need to increase the number of visas to foreigners in order to “continue to attract the world’s best brains.”
The prospect of congressional action on immigration before the 2008 presidential elections is unlikely, she said.
A visitor from Yuma said he appreciated the governor’s honesty, willingness to meet with business interests and ability to recognize Arizona’s potential benefit to foreign nations.
“She understands about the mutually beneficial relationship with not only Mexico, but other countries,” said Javier Morales, a Yuma government analyst and liaison with the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. “It’s a global market and if we don’t do it somebody else is going to come take it.”
The luncheon, held at the Phoenix Airport Marriot, was attended by more than 300 guests, including ambassadors from Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.