And what’s left is where Alabama would be if it did not have strong ties overseas.
Multiply that by hundreds of other international companies doing business with and inside Alabama, and you get the picture.
So does Gov. Bob Riley. That’s why it should be encouraging that Riley has made recruiting overseas a priority in his administration.
He has just returned from trips to Germany and Spain, hoping to strengthen those ties and create new bonds to overseas business.
Aggressive recruitment pays off, and business with international ties taking root in Alabama soil continues to make a sizable impact on the state’s economy.
In our own backyard, we can look at Honda in Lincoln, Nippon Oil in Childersburg, Nemak in Sylacauga and Eismann Automotive in Pell City, just to name a few, and see a melting pot of international industries calling the region home.
It is testament to Alabama’s ability to attract industry and provide a qualified workforce that brings them here. And we support Riley’s efforts to continue the trend.
Textiles left due to the profiteers in the industry. People continue to buy the same name brands they did when they were manufactured here. When USA companies were crying out for support from the buying public, we ignored them for a "cheaper" price. If you have noticed, the prices have now increased to levels well above where they were a few years back. Same holds true for the paper mill in Childersburg. People no longer read newspapers and advertising has shifted to electronic media. China again is importing approximately 30% of the writing paper used in the USA. We love our Wal-Marts, Targets, K-Marts, etc. The BIG BOXES. We use the excuse that our mom and pop stores don't have enough choices. We typically buy the same things each time but we want to know we have multiple choices.
Follow the discussions on health care; we have driven the price of care out of reach by insisting we have access to unlimited tests and diagnosis.