Athens, Greece – Governor Eric J. Holcomb concluded his economic development trip to Greece following a week with the Council of State Governments. 

Gov. Holcomb lead a Council of State Governments delegation of U.S. state and business leaders to advance American democracy and business opportunities through policy, business and cultural exchanges. The governor also pursued new partnership opportunities for Indiana and Hoosiers, highlighting the importance of foreign direct investment to the state and its commitment to global engagement.  

Gov. Holcomb attended a reception at U.S. Ambassador Tsunis residence where he addressed the Council of State Government delegation as well as students and faculty from Indiana University and Purdue University.

In Athens, the governor met with U.S. and Greece government officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Greece George J. Tsunis; Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece; Deputy Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs of the Hellanic Republic (pictured) to discuss the growing ties between the U.S. and Greece and explore opportunities for Indiana and Greece to advance economic and community development for both their populations.  

In Athens, Gov. Holcomb and the delegation met with representatives of the American-HellenicChamber of Commerce (AmCham Greece) to advance economic cooperation between Indiana and Greece. AmCham chapters worldwide play an important role in connecting Indiana to future-focused economic partners. Last year, AmCham Greece signed a memorandum of understanding with Purdue University, committing to exploring new initiatives to foster R&D in the academic and business community. Pictured with the governor is Dr. Petros Drineas, Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, and John Kyiakides, member of AmCham Greece executive committee and board of directors. 

Gov. Holcomb also met with leaders of Enterprise Greece to discuss ways to promote innovation and trade in future-focused sectors, including life sciences and technology, with a particular focus on small-to-medium-sized businesses and startups. Greece hosts business facilities of three Hoosier corporation – Eli Lilly and Company, Corteva and Zimmer Biomet – while trade between Indiana and Greece tops $53 million annually.  

In Athens, the governor met with executives of Pharmaserve-Lilly, a joint venture between the Greek pharmaceutical company Pharmaserve and Indiana-based Eli Lilly and Company, to discuss the company’s partnership in advancing drug development and delivery. The company was formed in 1994 and is now among the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Greece.  

Gov. Holcomb, First Lady Janet Holcomb, and the delegation met with leadership of the World Human Forum, a global think and do tank, to discuss the increasingly-connected future global economy and strategies to create a better tomorrow for all citizens worldwide.  

Gov. Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb will conclude their first official visit to Greece this weekend. This visit was paid for by the Council of State Governments.

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 120 2024) — Ports of Indiana and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase collaboration, expand agricultural trade and create new container shipping opportunities for Indiana.

The primary purpose of the MOU is to establish a framework for enhanced collaboration, to promote increased agricultural trade and fostering economic development for Indiana. The MOU outlines an agreement for the organizations to partner in the following ways:

Encourage and support the expansion of agricultural exports through the state’s port facilities.

Investigate opportunities to develop new container shipping facilities that serve critical needs in the agriculture and hardwood industries.

Connect key agricultural stakeholders with Indiana’s ports to explore new shipping opportunities and convene critical stakeholder forums.

Research container export opportunities related to ISDA’s key priorities.

“ISDA has helped position Indiana agriculture as a global leader in innovation and commercialization for food and fuel production, and our ports play a critical role in connecting our ag industry with world markets,” said Jody Peacock, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. “Our organizations and our industries are inextricably linked, and we have several shared objectives and opportunities for collaboration that can create future growth for our state and our agricultural communities.”

Earlier this year, the two organizations partnered with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council to conduct a trade mission to Indonesia and to host the first-ever Indiana Container Shipping Conference. Governor Eric Holcomb kicked off the conference as business, agriculture and transportation leaders discussed ways to develop new container ports, grow agriculture exports and expand global trade to support Indiana’s economic growth. In July, Ports of Indiana received federal approval to establish Indiana’s first international sea cargo container terminal on Lake Michigan and signed an MOU with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to explore new agriculture and container shipping opportunities.

Agriculture contributes more than $35 billion annually to the Hoosier economy, making Indiana the ninth largest agriculture state. Indiana ranks 13th in the nation for waterborne shipping, generating $29.9 billion in annual economic impact. Ports of Indiana handles more than 4 million tons of agriculture products at its three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, and those cargoes make up more than a third of the total shipments.