World marketplace creates local jobs

Paper pulp from South America. Cocoa from Africa. Wire from China. All of them come into Southeast Missouri factories and then go out as finished products to the rest of the country or overseas.

It's a remarkable process, and more common in our area than anyone might think.

Industrial powerhouses Procter & Gamble, Gilster-Mary Lee and Rubbermaid, and many more, all are tied into the rest of the world by imports, exports or both.

Economists call it globalization: the shrinking of our world through faster communication and travel. While our world has seen overseas trading for centuries, the scale today is larger than ever.

Globalization is helping to create jobs, bolster the economy and make communities more diverse. Studies show that global companies earn more and reinvest more quickly and are less likely to close than their one-country competitors.

Most Americans don't understand the impact of the global economy outside of a few items in their daily lives. However, in 2001 alone, Missouri businesses exported $6.88 billion in products, primarily to Canada and Mexico, although exports also go to Europe and Asia.

A list of the products coming and going out of these industries and others is fascinating. P&G takes in wood pulp and ships out diapers, paper towels and toilet paper. Gilster-Mary Lee takes in oats from Canada and ships out cereal and other food products. Rubbermaid takes in wire from China and sends out shoe racks.

The list goes on.

Our industrial recruiters are eager to get global companies into the state. They need the same things any other company needs: transportation, low utility rates, a strong workforce and tax breaks. But they also want to be sure the area is receptive to investments from other countries.

Meanwhile, we have to compete against not only other states, but other countries for the business.

Southeast Missouri has shown that it is receptive to outside investments. It is home to BioKyowa, the first Japanese company to locate in Missouri. TG Missouri in Perryville also is Japanese-owned. Nordenia USA is a German-owned packaging company. Lone Star Industries Inc. recently was purchased by a German company. Several related companies -- Southeast Missouri Stone, Delta Concrete, Delta Asphalt, Girardeau Contractors, Apex Paving -- are owned by Colas of France.

These companies employ thousands. It is vital that Missourians understand the impact of the global economy on their little corner of the world and be supportive of such investments.