At NJIT, NJ's Governor Lays Out Plans for Trade Mission to East Asia
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, during an appearance at New Jersey Institute of Technology, unveiled plans for a trade mission to East Asia this fall that will seek to generate more jobs and investment in the state.
Murphy, speaking during a business roundtable with N.J. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken, said the trip “at minimum” would include stops in Japan and South Korea and take place in October. The N.J. delegation, he added, will comprise elected officials, diplomats and leaders of business, culture and higher education, including NJIT President Teik C. Lim.
“Job creation in New Jersey, investment in New Jersey are the top two priorities. And I would broaden that also to acknowledge the deep cultural, familial, institutional, personal relations that we are proud to have in our New Jersey community with both of those nations,” Murphy said. “We will make sure it is worthwhile.”
The trade mission, which will be funded by the business nonprofit Choose New Jersey, was revealed toward the end of the hour-long roundtable, which covered a broad spectrum of business topics, including the state’s standing as a place to work, live and raise a family, its rising credit ranking, the difficulty of accessing working capital these days and opportunities to reduce red tape.
In welcoming Murphy and Bracken, Lim noted that NJIT fuels more than $2.8 billion in business activity statewide each year and educates about a third of the engineers and scientists in the state. In addition, among public universities, NJIT awards 62% of all the engineering degrees earned by African-Americans and Hispanics.
“Industry plays a very critical role in helping us fulfill our mission as one of the greatest producers of technological talent and knowledge that fuel the economic growth through the state,” Lim said. “We also are an engine of opportunity for diverse, hard-working students. I often point out that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. At NJIT, our students from all backgrounds find an abundance of opportunities and thrive.”
In acknowledging Lim, Murphy described NJIT as “an absolute American gem, never mind a New Jersey gem.”
