Gov. Pat Quinn has met with about half a dozen heads of state during the NATO summit to build trade links for Illinois.
It's been one of Quinn's goals. Last year, he traveled to China and Japan and is headed Brazil later this year.
Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson says Quinn met with prime ministers of Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. He also met with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and the foreign ministers of Greece and Spain.
Quinn says exports from Illinois increased 17 percent in the first three months of 2012. That continues a strong export growth for the state and the country.
The state's exports increased by 29 percent in 2011. That's as every U.S. state increased its exports last year.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
