Skillman reports trade mission success

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman has completed the business portion of a weeklong trade mission to China. She's coming back with prospects for new jobs.

It was Skillman's second trade mission to China, following a visit there in 2010. This time, she went to China with a couple of priorities in mind. Renewing a sister state relationship with a Chinese province was one of them. She delivered a piece of Indiana limestone cut into the shape of the Indiana map to maintain ties intiated by Gov. Bob Orr 25 years ago.

"Relationships were enhanced," said Rachel Sorvig, the spokesperson for the lieutenant governor. "Deals could come in the next days, weeks, months, but the first step is going over to China and strengthening those relationships."

There were meetings with business and government leaders and talks about selling Indiana commodities in China and luring Chinese businesses to Indiana.

"She signed a number of memorandums of understanding with three Chinese businesses," said Sorvig, "leading to a possible 240 jobs here in Indiana."

Before she left, the lieutenant governor set out some long-term goals.

"You know there's hardly a small town in the state of Indiana that does not have some investment from Japan," she said. "I think a few years from now we could indeed expect that same level of investment from Chinese companies."

Muncie, Elkhart and Huntingburg are the Indiana communities that are most likely to receive new jobs as a result of the Skillman trade mission. The lieutenant governor and her entourage will be back in Indianapolis on Sunday.