Rep. Courtney: Building Bridges Through Trade Will Help CT's Economic Recovery

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney and Anne Evans of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Middletown Office departed today on a four day export and trade mission to Europe seeking new economic opportunities for Connecticut's struggling small and mid-sized companies.

Leading the delegation of more than one dozen companies and organizations from across the state, Congressman Courtney and Anne Evans will work to develop new long-term partnerships to reverse the downturn in the local economy.

"While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which I supported and President Obama signed into law in February, is beginning to make significant investments in our communities, more can be done. My goal for the mission to Europe is to build bridges to the global economy that will create new jobs here in Connecticut through increased trade."

"For a true and lasting economic recovery to take place no opportunity for growth can be left unexplored and I am determined to continue doing all that I can to make our economy strong once again."

The Armada Business Development Mission will include European Union business briefings along with prearranged business meetings providing an opportunity for Connecticut manufacturers and service providers to meet with international agents, distributors and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participants' needs in that particular market. Companies will meet with prospective customers at destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, after an initial stop at the U.S. Mission to the European Union.

Congressman Courtney recently added a visit with the U.S. Foreign Agriculture Service in Brussels to receive an update on the new export subsidy program that was announced by the United States Department of Agriculture on May 22, the impact of European Union subsidies created in January, and discuss approaches to stabilizing falling U.S. and global dairy prices.

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