The state of Missouri today closed a $200 million export and investment agreement with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China that will increase Missouri’s exports to this area in northwestern China over the next three years.

Gov. Jay Nixon witnessed the signing of the agreement by David Kerr, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and Xu Bin, deputy secretary-general of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur, according to a news release.

Under the agreement, the Missouri Department of Economic Development will work with officials in Xinjiang Uygur to increase Missouri exports to the region from 2012 to 2014. Xinjiang Uygur is the largest of all of China’s provincial-level administrative regions by area.

“This agreement will open new export opportunities for Missouri businesses in China, and help create more jobs here at home,” Nixon stated in the release. “This is a direct result of our historic trade mission to China in October when we closed $4.6 billion in additional export agreements that will keep our economy moving forward. My administration will continue to work aggressively to help Missouri businesses sell more goods overseas and create new job opportunities in the Show-Me State.”

During the governor’s trade mission in October, he closed $200 million in similar export and investment agreements with two Chinese provinces, Zhejiang and Hebei. These agreements at the subnational level are a part of Nixon’s strategy of working directly with governors of other states, provinces and subnational jurisdictions to promote Missouri exports and economic growth. Specifically with China, these agreements stem from a bilateral meeting between American and Chinese governors at the National Governors Association meeting earlier this year in Salt Lake City. While in China, Nixon also closed a $4.4 billion export agreement with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

“I am committed to working closely with leaders at every level and in countries around the world to increase the export of Missouri goods and to keep our economy moving forward,” Nixon stated.  “These agreements are another solid step in that direction.”

After a milestone increase of 35 percent in 2010, Missouri’s exports already were up another 13 percent through the first three quarters of 2011 — a sign that the international demand for Missouri goods continues to grow, according to the release. This year-to-date increase in exports translates to an additional $1.2 billion worth of Missouri goods being sold to customers around the world.