The Economic Development Authority appointed David Campbell to lead its Office of International Trade and Investment, replacing Wesley Matthews.
Formed in August 2018, the office is tasked with attracting foreign investment and businesses to New Jersey.
“We’re a relatively new creation to the EDA. We’re still … getting up to speed, making sure that folks within the state and outside the state know that we exist and how we can be of help,” Campbell said in an interview.
Campbell was previously a senior adviser at the office, and for four years he worked at various posts within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and before that the private sector, all of which centered on international trade. He studied German at Yale, accounting at the University of Hartford and law at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University.
Gov. Phil Murphy is trying to entice businesses to move or expand in the state. – AARON HOUSTON
His appointment comes as the Murphy administration ramps up its overseas efforts by partnering with the nonprofit Choose New Jersey to entice foreign businesses, universities and other organizations to expand into the state.
“Part of my challenge is to make sure that the consulates and the embassies have information so they know they can contact us if they have a group coming or they have a question,” Campbell said. “I’m focused on making sure that we get the message [to the] companies, to trade groups,” he added.
Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy opened an office in New Delhi to attract Indian businesses to the Garden State. Choose New Jersey, which picked up the tab for Murphy’s week-long trade mission in India, will operate the office.
Murphy established a similar office in Berlin to attract German and Western European businesses to the state, a move announced during his trip to Germany, Israel and Palestine in 2018.
“They’re the tip of the spear” Campbell said.
“If there’s a delegation of business leaders coming over from Mumbai to Trenton, they’re probably going to meet with Jose or myself,” Campbell said in reference to Choose New Jersey president Jose Lozano.
