C.H. Robinson Senior Vice President Joins U.S. Commerce Secretary on Trade Mission

Eden Prairie, MN (March 26, 2012) — C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. announced today that Senior Vice President of Transportation Jim Butts will join U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on a business development mission to India.

During the mission, Secretary Bryson and Butts, along with 15 additional U.S. business leaders, will meet with senior-level Indian government officials to advocate for U.S. export opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure sector, and promote investment opportunities in America. The mission will take place March 25-30 with stops in New Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai.

An often overlooked aspect of building schools, libraries, water treatment plants, roads, and bridges is the tremendous transportation expertise required to deliver materials and equipment to often remote job sites. As the only logistics company in the trade delegation, C.H. Robinson anticipates providing unique knowledge regarding all forms of global transportation to the discussions of infrastructure that will occur during the trade mission.

“We’re proud to support the efforts of the U.S. Commerce Secretary and pleased to represent the supply chain perspective in this business development initiative,” said Butts. “As a global transportation provider, C. H. Robinson is very involved with the increased export activities of many organizations. This mission will enable us to promote this trade and align our resources strategically to support the continued success of our customers.”

The mission supports efforts to increase investment in the United States, and a new national tourism strategy focused on creating American jobs by becoming even more welcoming to visitors from around the world.

“This mission builds on President Obama’s historic visit to India two years ago, when he said before the Indian Parliament that the U.S.-India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. I couldn’t agree more,” said Bryson. “I am looking forward to connecting American business leaders to new opportunities in India’s rising infrastructure sector, and encouraging Indian businesses and individuals to invest in and visit the United States. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and its large market presents an important opportunity for U.S. companies to sell their goods and services to some of the 95 percent of consumers who live beyond our borders and boost job creation at home.”

In 2006, C.H. Robinson opened its first offices in India with the acquisition of Triune Freight Private Ltd. and Triune Logistics Private Ltd., a third party logistics provider based in India. C.H. Robinson now has 10 offices in India which are part of the company’s worldwide network.

India is expected to spend over $1 trillion on infrastructure development over the next five years, and a growing consuming class could lead to increased demand for a range of consumer goods and services. Trade missions are a critical part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s efforts to support the National Export Initiative, and contributed to the success of thousands of companies exporting in 2011 for the first time.

About C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is a global provider of multimodal logistics services, fresh produce sourcing, and information services to 37,000 customers through a network of more than 230 offices and over 8,300 employees around the world. The company works with 53,000 transportation providers worldwide. C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and had annual revenues of $10.3 billion in 2011.

Through the company and its Foundation, C.H. Robinson and its employees contribute millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Community Health Charities, American Red Cross, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, and Global Impact. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ since 1997. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit http://www.chrobinson.com.