(New York, NY--May 12, 2011)— Governor Chris Christie today highlighted New Jersey’s competitive advantage as a destination and marketplace for global companies during his keynote address at the 20th Annual Conference of Committee of 100, a leadership organization of Chinese Americans at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Chris Christie was sworn in as New Jersey's 55th Governor on January 19, 2010. Since his inauguration, Governor Christie has achieved early success in implementing his reform agenda for the state. In the first 15 months of his administration, Governor Christie has balanced budget deficits totaling $13 billion, implemented a 2 percent cap on property taxes, and enacted first-step pension and benefit reform legislation into law. He has made fiscal sanity and responsibility hallmarks of his agenda, while pursing bold reforms to improve public education, rein in public employee pension and benefits costs, and deliver property tax relief. In 2010, Governor Christie was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. The Advisory Committee provides policy advice on trade issues of overall national interest. Prior to his election as governor in 2009, Christie served as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 2002 to 2008, where he successfully prosecuted cases against public corruption, corporate crime, human trafficking, gangs, terrorism and polluters.
“New Jersey realizes the importance of expanding international trade, and we have made it a central priority of our economic development strategy,” said Governor Christie. “From ensuring the State has a presence in global markets like China and Europe, to hosting foreign trade missions, we are fully committed to competing aggressively for foreign investment. I’m pleased to join the Committee of 100 because for more than 20 years, the Committee has provided an important bridge between the United States and China.”
Since taking Office, the Christie Administration has worked aggressively to increase New Jersey’s import-export capacity, as well as additional trade investment opportunities. The Administration has announced a number of actions that will encourage increased import-export capacity, including a memorandum of understanding agreement between the Economic Development Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for shared trade offices covering the Greater China and the European market, the investment of $1 billion dollars into modernizing the Bayonne Bridge, and the Global Business Advocacy department in the Business Action Center, hosting upwards of 23 various foreign delegations and trading partners in New Jersey. Currently, New Jersey is the 11th largest exporter in the United States, last year with over $32.2 billion in export sales.
“We are delighted to host Governor Christie at our annual Conference,” said John S. Chen, Committee of 100 Chairman. “We praise his vision to make education and energy top priorities and share his determination to make us more competitive to meet the challenge of a globalized economy.”
Themed “Common Ground,” Committee of 100’s Annual Conference brings together opinion leaders and shapers of policy to explore the evolving China and U.S. dynamic. Topics of discussion include: social and economic change within the two countries, challenges faced in developing sustainable cities, emergence of new markets in the U.S. and China and best practices for Asian talent management in global companies. The 20th Annual Conference Co-Chairs are Clarence Kwan, Senior Partner, Chinese Services Group, Deloitte LLP; James M. Li, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs; and Lulu C. Wang, Chief Executive Officer, Tupelo Capital Management LLC.
The Committee of 100 is a leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts. For over 20 years, the Committee has served as a substantive bridge in the U.S.-China dialogue by fostering regular exchanges with the leadership of Beijing, Taipei, and Washington. Members of the Committee of 100 are leading U.S. citizens of Chinese descent who leverage their collective influence, resources and experiences to address important topics shaping U.S.-China relations as well as issues affecting the Chinese American community. www.committee100.org.
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Contact:
Ms. An Ping
(917) 670-5871
ping_an@committee100.org
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