LANSING, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will travel to Europe next week for a five-day trip to promote the state's recent economic developments and with hopes of attracting new businesses in the automotive and clean energy industries.
The Democratic governor will travel to Norway first before heading to Switzerland to speak at the World Economic Forum's to speak on a panel to discuss 鈥淭he Return of Manufacturing." She will be a part of a bipartisan group of governors in Davos that includes Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
鈥淲e are taking this opportunity to tell Michigan鈥檚 story around the world with leaders and decisionmakers in other countries," Whitmer said in a press release Wednesday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e building something in Michigan that everyone should want to be a part of.鈥�
The trip, which will be Whitmer鈥檚 first in Europe to discuss the state鈥檚 economic development, will focus on Michigan's recent mobility and hydrogen investments, while discussing future investment opportunities in Michigan with world leaders and business executives.
Michigan was to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative for automobiles and factories that rely largely on climate-warming fossil fuels. The partnership followed a federal infrastructure law enacted in 2021 that included $8 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy to fund regional 鈥渉ubs鈥� that would step up clean hydrogen production and distribution.
Michigan was also highlighted by the U.S. Department of Energy last week as one of three states expected to lead the nation in electric vehicle battery manufacturing by 2030. The state granted over in an effort to vehicle manufacturing projects.
In her statement Wednesday, Whitmer reiterated that Michigan would continue to compete with 鈥渙ther states and other nations to land game changing manufacturing projects.鈥� Michigan heads into the 2023 legislative session, which began Wednesday, with nearly $6 billion in surplus funds and with Democrats holding full control of the state government for the first time in 40 years.
Whitmer's appearance in Davos, where 52 heads of state and government and nearly 600 CEOs will meet, comes as her profile has steadily grown since first being elected governor in 2018. She has been mentioned as a possible future White House candidate since in the battleground state.
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press
