"It's not about simply going and shaking hands and waving and talking about particular arrangements that come about. I view it as a long term investment..." Snyder said from Italy.
LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder is in Europe this week, on a week-long mission to convince Italian and German auto suppliers to locate or expand in Michigan.
The Republican governor plans to personally meet with 10 to 20 companies and host receptions with many more on his trip that includes stops in Milan and Turin, Italy along with Dusseldorf and Stuttgart, Germany.
"We've had several good meetings," Snyder said via phone from Milan on Monday, his first full day overseas. "(There's) a lot of interest in Michigan. Primarily we're meeting with automotive companies, and they have a strong interest already. They've done a lot of homework and they're focused very much on looking at Michigan as their most likely location."
Snyder made a similar trek in March 2012, when he met with automaker Fiat and other manufacturers in Italy as well as German automotive and alternative energy firms. He plans to meet with officials from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Italy this week along with several auto suppliers in Germany, known as an automotive hub of Europe.
"It's not about simply going and shaking hands and waving and talking about particular arrangements that come about," Snyder said. "I view it as a long term investment, so you do this to actually build a relationship with trust between communities, countries and individuals. That's when it really pays off."
He'll join officials from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Right Place of Grand Rapids and Southwest Michigan First of Kalamazoo.
Also joining the contingent is Nigel Francis, who advises the governor on automotive issues and leads the MEDC's Automotive Industry Office, where he's tasked with ensuring the state continues to grow its car industry.
Francis said he and the governor had a great meeting with Brugola, an Italian precision bolt manufacturer that has a location in Canton Township.
"They are in the process of understanding where they should expand,"Francis said via phone from Italy. "I'd hope from our meeting today that it's clear it should be Michigan."
He said the foreign companies they pursue are usually established in the market and already have business with the major auto manufacturers. Francis highlights Michigan's manufacturing infrastructure, skilled workforce, and leadership in parts production and research and development.
"We need to sell that, it's our job to sell that if we want the state to continue to grow and to continue to flourish," he said.
After his first full day of meetings, Snyder said he still hadn't gotten any questions about Detroit's bankruptcy from the business leaders, a stark contrast from his trade mission to China last fall, when it was a major topic of conversation.
While the Italian press questioned him about the situation, Snyder said it appears the bankruptcy isn't an issue for the companies so far.
More than 350 German companies and 40 Italian firms have locations in Michigan that employ about 72,000 people. They're largely concentrated in advanced automotive manufacturing and research and development, according to the MEDC.
German companies Hark Orchids, MAHLE and led Snyder to launch the Brose have all announced business expansions in Michigan since Snyder's last trip to Germany. That trip also led Snyder to launch the Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program, an apprenticeship program for community college students.
The trip marks Snyder's seventh international trade mission as governor. He's led three trips to Asia, most recently in September, along with missions to Israel, Canada, Italy and Germany. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley made trips to the Netherlands, Brazil and Mexico in 2013.
Snyder's trip is funded by the Michigan Economic Growth Foundation and the MEDC's corporate funds. The foundation receives voluntary contributions, while MEDC corporate funds come from several streams, mostly from a tax on American Indian casino revenues.
Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter: @MelissaDAnders. Download the MLive app for iPhone and Android.