Governor Jack Markell discusses his trip to Chile this week, including the deal he signed to extend a key trade agreement through June 2014. Markell also highlights the importance of the Port of Wilmington to Delaware’s economy and promoting Delaware’s reputation internationally.
Governor's Weekly Message
Governor Jack Markell
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Full text of Governor Jack Markell’s weekly message:
This is the time of year when we’re blessed with many wonderful Delaware crops – peaches, sweet corn, melons, but we’re also fortunate that when we walk down the grocery aisles, we have many more fruits and vegetables to choose from year round.
There’s a good chance those fruits came through the Port of Wilmington, which is the nation’s leading port for fruit cargo and home to the largest on-terminal refrigerated facility in North America.
This week, I’m visiting Chile – an important trading partner for Delaware. Because Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, its harvests complements ours. We’re able to get fresh Chilean fruit delivered during the winter.
Companies like Wal-Mart and Dole have made our Port their East Coast hub for Chilean fruit and over the last year, the amount of Chilean fruit unloaded at the Port of Wilmington increased by nearly 20 percent. This means jobs - more than 600 jobs that rely on this business.
That’s why we’re excited to be signing an agreement extending our partnership with Chile through June 30th of 20-14.
This week, my mission has been to finalize the deal and thank our customers for their business. We are working to promote Delaware's reputation internationally and make sure that any companies looking for a new location know about Delaware.
For many employers, we are the ideal gateway to the American market. Our world-class port, prime location on the East coast and quality workforce and transportation infrastructure make Delaware a practical choice.
Our workforce is ready to take on any challenge and we’re working hard to prepare for the challenges of the future.
We have a vibrant community that knows how to pull together.
When a company sets up shop in a new place or expands right where it is – there’s nothing more valuable than a supportive community. So, the next time you're grabbing grapes, cherries or kiwi fruit from local grocery aisle, remember that even though they come from pretty far away, chances are there’s a local Delaware connection….and we’re working to grow the businesses that not only call Delaware home, but count on Delaware to bring their produce and products to thousands of other consumers in the United States.
We’re part of an international marketplace that helps keep things moving, as WE keep Delaware moving forward.
