State of New Jersey
Executive Order #147

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, economic growth and the creation of jobs is essential to the continued well-being and prosperity of the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, sustaining New Jersey's position as one of the nation's most prosperous states and most vital centers of innovation demands aggressive leadership, especially in increasingly competitive economic times; and

WHEREAS, international trade is an integral part of the State's economic development, job creation strategy, and prosperity; and

WHEREAS, the primary industries of our State such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high technology manufacturing and service industries must increasingly rely on export markets for maintaining business and employment expansion; and

WHEREAS, world trade is vital to the future of our nation’s economy, and New Jersey is at the crossroads of a new global economic order; and

WHEREAS, to achieve our full potential, it is necessary for the State of New Jersey to assess its performance as a trading partner and to constantly seek to improve its international business climate; and

WHEREAS, the Office of International Trade, in the Business Retention and Attraction Division of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, was established to encourage and promote foreign investment in New Jersey with representatives of foreign governments and businesses; and

WHEREAS, a key foreign trading partner of our State is the nation of Italy to which our state exported $1.4 billion of industrial products in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Italy is New Jersey’s sixth largest export partner, and New Jersey is the third largest exporter of goods to Italy among the 50 states; and

WHEREAS, Italy ranks second in importance as a source of import volume for New Jersey’s ports and is the State’s third leading trading partner for total volume of both imports and exports; and

WHEREAS, the State’s exports to Italy have rapidly increased: from 2003 to 2008 New Jersey’s exports to Italy increased 192% while the State’s overall exports increased 111% and the United States’ exports to Italy increased 46.5%; and

WHEREAS, despite such impressive export figures, Italy’s strong demand for imports, valued at $556 billion in 2008, includes many products and services offered by New Jersey companies, thus presenting an opportunity to expand the already robust trading partnership between our State and Italy; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to P.L.2001, c.343, the New Jersey Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs (Commission) was created and established in the executive branch to survey, design, encourage, and promote the implementation of Italian and Americans of Italian heritage, cultural and educational programs in this State; and

WHEREAS, the Commission’s heritage, cultural and educational programs can also serve an important role in efforts to promote trade as well as cultural exchange with Italy; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey business leaders have recently founded the New Jersey/Italy Trade Council (Trade Council), a non-profit organization, with the twin goals of promoting trade between New Jersey and Italy, and supporting programs fostering Italian and Italian-American culture, education, history, and heritage through periodic contributions of funds from the Trade Council; and

WHEREAS, the Trade Council’s mission is to foster capital investment and joint business ventures between businesses based in the State of New Jersey and in Italy through reciprocal trade delegations and seminars, and to provide a solid business-to-business resource, primarily through the operation of a bilingual web site for companies in New Jersey and Italy that are interested in import and export transactions;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The Office of Economic Growth (OEG) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) shall collaborate with the Trade Council and other stakeholders to further existing efforts to promote trade and economic exchanges between New Jersey and Italy and to pursue the following objectives, among other trade initiatives:

    1. Promotion of the State's programs to attract and retain jobs and businesses;

    2. Provision of New Jersey-Italy trade information and recommendations to the Governor, State agencies, and the Legislature, including the identification of current and long-term international trade issues which may require attention from the State;

    3. Promotion of a long-term State trade strategy with Italy;

    4. Utilization of programs to assist small and medium-size businesses that have the potential to develop trade with Italy;

    5. Coordination of the State’s current trade information resources in order to achieve the most effective State approach to international trade planning, academic research, and private sector international trade marketing policy with respect to Italy, including best practices for collecting, computing, distributing, and reporting of trade data and statistical information concerning trade with Italy; and

    6. Planning and implementation of reciprocal trade exchanges, missions and related projects and events.

  2. To carry out these objectives, the OEG, NJEDA and the Secretary of State may establish advisory committees with the Trade Council and other stakeholders to advise and guide the Office of International Trade and the New Jersey Tourism Policy Council in the Department of State. In particular, such advisory committees may recommend plans for the promotion of educational, cultural, travel, and trade exchanges between the State of New Jersey and Italy. OEG, NJEDA and the Secretary of State may assist the Trade Council in planning and implementing reciprocal trade exchanges, missions, and related programs and events, and may co-sponsor any such programs and events. The advisory committees may also recommend how to create reciprocal links between web sites of the Trade Council and other stakeholders and web sites of various State departments and agencies. OEG, NJEDA and the Secretary of State may allow reciprocal links with the Trade Council’s web site.

  3. In furtherance of this Order, OEG and NJEDA may call on any department, office, division, or agency of State government to provide trade data and statistical information and such other information, resources, or assistance deemed necessary to carry out its purposes as described in this Order, and OEG and NJEDA may share with the Trade Council and other stakeholders any such information that is not confidential or privileged. Each department, office, division, and agency of this State, to the extent not inconsistent with law, is hereby required to cooperate with the OEG and NJEDA and to furnish such information and assistance as is necessary and available to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

  4. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall expire in 3 years.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 24th day of July
Two Thousand and Nine, and of the Independence of
the United States, the Two Hundred and Thirty-Fourth.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

 

Attest:

/s/ William J. Castner, Jr.

Chief Counsel to the Governor