Lt. Gov. Skillman to lead China trip

INDIANAPOLIS | Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman will lead an Indiana agriculture economic development trade mission to China in June.

Skillman, who also serves as the state's agriculture secretary, will be joined by about 20 Indiana agriculture leaders, including representatives from Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences, for the June 1-10 trip.

Stops are planned in Zhejiang, Indiana's sister province in China, as well as the capital, Beijing. The trip itinerary is still being finalized.

In 2008, Indiana exported $3.77 billion worth of food and agricultural products, including $670 million to China. Indiana is ninth among the states in worldwide agriculture exports. China is Indiana's fourth-largest customer for agriculture exports, behind Canada, Mexico and Japan.

"This administration is devoted to expanding the reach of Hoosier products throughout the world, and numerous business opportunities await in China," Skillman said.

Gov. Mitch Daniels visited China and Japan on a trade mission last year. The Republican governor said he's likely to return to Asia again this year.

Skillman's China trip will be her fourth international trade mission since taking office in 2005. She led delegations to Central America in 2005, Taiwan and Vietnam in 2006 and Mexico in 2008.

Those trips led to on-the-spot business deals for Hoosier producers of wine, hardwoods and other Indiana products, Skillman said.

The cost of the trade mission will be paid by private donations. No tax dollars will be used to fund the trip.