Missouri’s governor meeting with Bayer executives in Germany

The governor says the main goal of this week’s trade mission to Germany and the Netherlands is to strengthen relationships with companies that have a Missouri presence, and to promote the Show-Me State as an ideal location for additional investment.

Missouri exported $679-million in products and services to Germany in 2021.

Governor Mike Parson is meeting with Bayer and BASF executives in Germany this week. He’s being joined by Missouri agriculture director Chris Chinn and state Department of Economic Development (DED) acting director Maggie Kost.

Governor Parson has long said that his overseas trade missions are about protecting Missouri jobs and giving residents across the state more opportunities for work.

Bayer purchased St. Louis’ Monsanto in 2018. Bayer relocated its North American Crop Science division to the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, bringing hundreds of new jobs that pay an average salary of $110,000. Governor Parson has said those new jobs with Bayer benefit the entire state, not just Creve Coeur. He says it benefits children in rural Missouri who will have the opportunity to work for Bayer.

“You know what it does, it benefits some kid in rural Missouri the opportunity to go to work for Bayer, gives them the opportunity to go to St. Louis County to be productive citizens up there,” Governor Parson told Capitol reporters in Jefferson City in 2019.