INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb will lead an international economic development trip to the Netherlands, Belgium and France this week to deepen relationships with microelectronic and semiconductor and energy partners across industry and government. This marks the Governor’s third international economic development trip of 2024, his second visit to France and Belgium and first visit to the Netherlands.
“Coming on the heels of our second Indiana Global Economic Summit, it’s more top-of-mind than ever that our international partners have been key to the record-breaking levels of investment coming into Indiana in the last few years,” said Gov. Holcomb. “These three countries have helped us level up in semiconductors and microelectronics and have forged new and prosperous relationships with our higher education institutions.”
Gov. Holcomb will depart Indianapolis today and return June 8. The Governor will be joined by First Lady Janet Holcomb, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg and representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, as well as representatives from the Applied Research Institute (ARI), one of the state’s strategic innovation partners, including CEO David Roberts; SVP, Innovation and Semiconductor Strategy, Jimmy Costa; and VP, Industrial Relations Roger Reeves.
In the Netherlands, the Governor and delegation will meet with U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Shefali Razdan Duggal and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Belgium, the group will meet with Redwire, a global leader in the space industry, and the Chamber of Commerce Antwerp (VOKA). While in Belgium, Gov. Holcomb and the delegation will also meet with imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. At SelectUSA in 2023, imec signed an MOU with the state of Indiana and Purdue University to advance research and development in Indiana’s semiconductor sector. In December 2023, imec opened a new research and development hub on Purdue’s campus.
Gov. Holcomb and the delegation will meet with representatives of the European Union External Action Service in charge of Economic and Global Issues. This will be followed by a meeting with Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon. The state of Indiana signed an MOU with Flanders to further strengthen cooperation on semiconductors, life sciences and energy in December 2023.
While in France, Gov. Holcomb will pay respects to members of the armed forces during a visit to Normandy. He will attend the U.S.-France D-Day Anniversary Ceremony and later visit Utah Beach with Carver McGriff, a D-Day veteran and Hoosier.
Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories. In 2023, foreign-owned companies committed to investing $20.49 billion to locate or expand operations in Indiana – a 182% increase from 2022 and 71% of the IEDC’s total committed capital investment in 2023 – and create approximately 8,500 new Hoosier jobs.
This marks Gov. Holcomb’s 23rd international economic development trip as governor. The cost for the governor’s travel is being paid for through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.
