Governor Doug Ducey (R-AZ) spoke highly of Arizona's growing manufacturing industry and increased foreign trade during the annual International State of the State Address last week. 

Ducey also touted the state's strong economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic in his speech before the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations.

“As a testament to the strength and resilience of our companies, I’m happy to report that Arizona exports have almost fully rebounded from the declines of the pandemic,” he said, according to a press release.

"As we create more opportunities abroad for our companies, it's clear the rest of the world has its eyes on Arizona," Ducey said. "None of this would have been possible without the leadership and hard work of all of our partners here in Arizona and abroad."

Arizona exports increased by $4.3 billion last year to $24 billion which came close to matching the record pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the release noted. 

According to the press release, Ducey also highlighted the state's strong relationship with bordering Mexico with Arizona companies recording $8.2 billion worth of exports, or a third of all the state's exports, to the country last year.

A portion of his speech was set aside for a "fireside chat" with Robert C. Robbins, President of the University of Arizona, who spoke about the how the reputation of the state's higher education institutions has an impact on the state's position in other countries, the release stated.