Fmr. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson wants more foreign investment in the Great Lakes region

Michigan Public | By Steve Carmody

Published July 21, 2014 at 5:21 AM EDT

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is seen here at a reception in Beijing co-sponsored by the Paulson Institute at the University of Chicago and the Center in Beijing.

The nation’s former Treasury Secretary has an idea about how to bring more foreign investment to the Great Lakes region. He’s coming to Detroit today to pitch it to the city’s business leaders.

Henry Paulson sees the Great Lakes region as a place presenting a lot of opportunities for emerging markets, like China, to invest.

Paulson was President George W. Bush’s Treasury Secretary during the 2008 financial crisis. He championed the $700 billion bailout of the nation’s banks. Before that, Paulson headed the investment firm of Goldman Sachs.

Since leaving government, Paulson helped create the Paulson Institute at the University of Chicago.

Paulson has been working with the Council of Great Lakes Governors to attract foreign investment to the region. He’ll discuss those plans at the Detroit Economic Club.