Governor Pence Leading Second Jobs Mission to Japan

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Governor Mike Pence will lead a delegation of Hoosier business leaders to Japan next month on his seventh international jobs and economic development mission and his second trade mission to Japan.

 

Departing Indiana on Sept. 11 and returning on Sept. 18, the Governor will travel to Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya. During the trip, he will attend the Japan-U.S. Midwest Conference, meet with business executives and government leaders, and host a reception for economic development partners and potential investors. While in Japan, Pence will meet with Japanese companies with Indiana operations, including Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Subaru.

 

“Indiana’s bond with Japan goes back nearly 100 years and with more than 46,000 Hoosiers employed by Japanese businesses across the state, we once again head to Japan to tell how Indiana is always the right decision for your business,” said Pence. “Our relationship with Japan has grown stronger, with Japanese companies able to leverage Indiana’s favorable business climate, convenient location and strong workforce. We remain committed to telling Indiana’s story and are always on the hunt for opportunities to bring jobs to the state and this jobs mission sets the stage to tell Indiana’s story to Japanese businesses once again.”

 

Indiana boasts the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita in the United States, and is the only state that is home to three Japanese original equipment manufacturer automotive companies: Subaru, Toyota and Honda. More than 240 Japanese businesses operate across the state, employing more than 46,000 Hoosiers. Counting Japan as its largest Asian trading partner and third-largest export country, Indiana exports $1.6 billion of Hoosier-made goods to Japan each year.

 

This jobs mission comes two years after the Governor’s first gubernatorial overseas economic development trip to Japan in 2013, where he visited Indiana’s sister-state Tochigi Prefecture and met with its governor, Tomikazu Fukuda. Following the governor’s visit to Tochigi Prefecture, Fukai Toyotetsu Indiana Corporation (FTIC) announced plans last year to locate new manufacturing operations in Jamestown, Indiana, creating up to 195 new jobs. FTIC is the first company with roots in Indiana’s sister-state to invest in Indiana.

 

Since 2005, the IEDC has secured projects with more than 10,000 Japan-based companies, projecting to create 13,000 new jobs and invest more than $4 billion in their Indiana operations. In June, Chiyoda USA, which is owned by Japan-based Chiyoda Manufacturing Corporation, announced plans to expand its U.S. headquarters and add up to 300 new jobs in Greencastle. Last year, Toyota Indiana announced plans to invest $100 million into its Princeton operations, creating up to 300 new jobs, while Aisin Chemical Indiana and Aisin Drivetrain announced plans to invest $45.35 million in its Crothersville operations

 

“Japanese businesses are strong here in Indiana. From main streets to industrial parks across our Hoosier State, Japan knows that Indiana is ready to be its go-to location for business growth,” said Pence. “Indiana’s team is working around the clock to keep that story going and keep the jobs numbers growing. We look forward to continuing to tell why Indiana is a state that works for Japanese companies.”

 

The cost of the state delegation is being covered through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. In addition to Governor Pence, the state will be represented by First Lady Karen Pence and Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has an office in Tokyo and its representatives will assist with trip arrangements.

 

This will be Pence’s seventh international trade mission as governor. In addition to Japan in 2013, he led economic development missions to Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel in 2014 followed by China in May of this year.