[StBernard] E-Postcard from Governor Blanco 9.19.07

[Westley Annis]

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco is in Spain this week on a business development mission with Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Mike Olivier. They are leading a team through several meetings and seminars in Madrid in hopes of recruiting more investments in Louisiana. Gov. Blanco is sending updates to constituents back home through e-postcards.

Governor Blanco's e-Postcard from Madrid 9.19.07

Today we conducted a series of productive meetings designed to generate new contacts for Louisiana's businesses. We began the day with a working breakfast meeting hosted by the US Embassy. Investors in attendance represented diverse sectors of the Spanish economy, from the energy sector, to real estate, to construction and beyond. This broad scope of attention speaks to their interest in the growing diversity of Louisiana's economy. We moved on to meetings with the banking industry, and a company focused on funding public-private infrastructure partnerships.

As US Ambassador Aguirre told us, it is clear that we have come to Spain at the right time. This is evident by the fact that my friend and fellow governor, Chet Culver of Iowa, arrives tonight to pitch his state to many of the same interests we've been recruiting. Louisiana must be out in the world aggressively pursuing new business - and fishing alongside our fellow states for new contacts and contracts - in order to reel in the big catches needed to grow our economy.

This economic development philosophy is at the core of my administration's approach to business. It is a philosophy I urge future governors and their teams to embrace and expand. Spain is proof positive that an aggressive approach to business is the approach Louisiana must sustain to remain ahead in the game. It is why I am here today.

-Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco


###

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org