CHICAGO — Illinois officials are seeking to increase trade with companies from the United Kingdom.
An Illinois delegation visiting the UK this week, led by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, announced the intent to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom to advance trade and economic development goals.
The United Kingdom is Illinois’ top investor by employment, employing over 90,000 Illinoisans such as BP North American Inc. in Wood River. Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $5 billion in the past year.
Pritzker and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch met with Nigel Huddleston, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade to announce the intent to pursue a MoU between the UK and Illinois. The United Kingdom is Illinois’ top investor by employment, employing over 90,000 Illinoisans. Bilateral trade between the two exceeded $5 billion in the past year.
This week Illinois officials began laying the groundwork to establish a bilateral United Kingdom and Illinois MoU to advance manufacturing in energy, technology and life science sectors in both trade and investment.
Also this week, Illinois officials met with Tate & Lyle Executive Vice President Rowan Adams to discuss the company’s continued investment in Illinois. As of March, the company has invested more than $45 million, retained 300 Illinois jobs and created an additional 122 jobs since 2011.
The Illinois delegation also met with Luca Garavoglia, chairman of the one of the largest beverage companies in the world, the Campari Group. Pritzker thanked the company for its investments in Illinois and encouraged them to further invest in the state.
Pritzker’s Chief of Staff Anne Caprara and several manufacturing delegates also met with UK-based auto industry companies to discuss the global transition to electric vehicles, technology and advanced manufacturing.
Illinois is home to more National Quantum Science Information centers than any other state; so far 30% of investments under the National Quantum Initiative Act have come to Illinois. Illinois has invested $200 million in the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
State officials also met with the Lord Mayor, Mr. Nicholas Stephen Leland Lyons, to discuss Illinois’ financial services and financial tech sector.
