Governor Josh Stein met with Dr. Kevin Rudd AC, the Australian Ambassador to the United States, at the Executive Mansion to discuss economic ties between North Carolina and Australia.
“I was proud to welcome Ambassador Rudd to the Executive Mansion as we celebrated North Carolina’s strong and enduring bond with the people and nation of Australia,” said Governor Josh Stein. “In recent years, seven Australian companies have created more than 840 jobs here in North Carolina, and I look forward to working together with Australia as we continue our strong economic partnership.”
“From our great agricultural and mining companies to the pharmaceuticals industry, there’s a lot of action in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, and bucketloads of collaboration with Australian R&D institutions back home,” said Australia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC. “North Carolina is a great place to do business. Thank you, Governor Stein, for the warm welcome.”
According to CNBC, North Carolina was recently named the top state for business due in part to its favorable business climate and skilled workforce (https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/10/north-carolina-tops-cnbcs-2024-top-states-for-business.html). Since January, Governor Stein has announced over $19 billion in new investments and more than 25,000 new jobs for North Carolina.
The governor has promoted efforts for global market expansion by recognizing businesses that increased exports earlier this year. He also attended the Paris Air Show in June to represent North Carolina among international business leaders. In 2024 alone, state companies exported goods and services worth over $42.8 billion worldwide—including exports to Australia—and seven Australian firms have invested more than $237 million in North Carolina over the past decade.
