Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her delegation spent more than $200,000 on an eight-day trip to Asia in September, averaging $26,000 per day.
This is according to records obtained by The Center Square through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Michigan Economic Development Corp..
The MEDC and the Michigan Economic Development Foundation, an independent, nonprofit organization, “supported” the trip, according to the governor’s office.
In total, the trip cost $91,000 for airfare, nearly $70,000 for hotel accommodations, $13,000 for conference rooms and events, $11,000 for ground transportation, and $6,000 for meals. Other miscellaneous expenses included photographer fees, interpretation services, and $3,200 for a “cultural activity.”
Whitmer argued the trip to South Korea and Taiwan was critical for the state’s business relations.
“Michigan and Taiwan are both places where people know how to make things, solve tough problems, and build the technologies that will define our future,” Whitmer said. “We’re going anywhere and working with anyone to bring more jobs, investments, and opportunity back home to Michigan.”
As previously reported on by The Center Square, Republicans have criticized Whitmer’s international travels.
Earlier this year, the governor took a week-long trip to Europe, spending approximately $180,000. That came after a $61,000 January trip to Switzerland.
Whitmer’s office defended her Asia trip for “building on strong partnership to bring jobs and investment to Michigan.”
The trip began in South Korea, with day one including a “cultural walking tour” of “traditional Korean homes” and a local shopping district. This is according to the official itinerary shared with The Center Square via the records request.
The rest of the time in South Korea included meetings with Korean companies that have recently invested in Michigan and meetings with government officials.
“Investment missions allow Team Michigan to build the trust that turn conversations into opportunities for Michigan’s people, communities, and businesses,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC, who joined Whitmer on the trip. “During this mission, we deepened relationships with companies already investing in Michigan while positioning our state to compete for future investment.”
After three nights in South Korea, the delegation flew to Taiwan, where members met with President Lai Ching-te, government officials, and representatives of semiconductor, drone, and robotics companies.
“Michigan is a global hub of the automotive industry, excelling in smart mobility, automotive software, information and communications technology, and industrial automation, which are highly complementary with Taiwan’s semiconductor, electronic components, and smart manufacturing industries,” said Ching-te. “As a result, an increasing number of Taiwanese enterprises are investing and expanding their presence in Michigan . . . I anticipate that the governor’s visit will bring about more Taiwan-US industrial cooperation, so that together we can enhance supply chain resilience and reinforce each other’s technological and industrial security.”
The trip marked Whitmer’s third visit to Taiwan in three years. She was accompanied by a delegation of more than a dozen people. Those included eight officials from MEDC, two from the governor’s office, and:
• David Coulter, county executive of Oakland County
• Paul Rogers, the adjunct general of the Michigan National Guard
• Charles Marshall, II, president of ITC Michigan
• Marc Corriveau, Sr. vice president & chief government relations officer at Henry Ford Health System
Whitmer applauded the trip as a success.
“Michigan is competing on the global stage, and the best way to win is to build relationships and make sure companies know what we bring to the table,” Whitmer said. “In South Korea and Taiwan, we deepened our relationships with companies already creating good-paying jobs in Michigan, and showed others considering where to make their next investment why our state is the best place to build the future.”
