Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and economic development officials from Tennessee and Mississippi say that secrecy is a key part of negotiating with corporate prospects. But they also say there must be transparency once the deals are finalized.
The officials on Friday defended their states’ efforts to keep details of pending deals confidential to remain competitive with other states and countries.
Beebe said that he believes the press will understand such secrecy as long as officials reveal details once deals are pending and as long as they don’t use it as an excuse to withhold information.
Beebe joined Tennessee Economic Development Commissioner Matt Kisber and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope for a panel discussion. The three spoke at the Tri-State Convention of the Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee press associations.