Israeli Cybersecurity Firms Make Indiana the First Stop in US Economic Mission

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence joined business and government leaders yesterday to host the second annual Indiana-Israel Business Exchange, discussing opportunities to strengthen economic ties and collaboration between the two states.

“Israel and Indiana share many common bonds that Hoosiers cherish,” said Governor Pence. “As our nation’s strongest and most important ally in the Middle East, Israel is also a key partner in our state’s continued economic growth, which is why were proud to welcome Israeli business leaders to Indiana. Hoosiers and Israelis are linked by our self-reliance, determination and entrepreneurial spirit, aiding us all in collaboration to grow our economies and create more great-paying jobs.”

The Indiana exchange was the first stop as part of an Israeli economic mission to the United States. Focused on strengthening global cybersecurity, the conference brought together leaders on Monday from nine Israeli businesses, 29 Indiana businesses, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Elevate Ventures, the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University and Purdue University. Throughout the day Israeli business leaders learned about doing business in the Indiana, networked with Hoosier businesses and visited leading Indiana cybersecurity companies.

Both Indiana and Israel have established themselves as global leaders in the cybersecurity field. According to Israel’s National Cyber Bureau, Israel develops 10 percent of global security technology, with security software sales topping $60 billion in 2014. Indiana, meanwhile, is home to leading cybersecurity companies including Rook Security, Pondurance and Kinney Group.

In April, Governor Pence signed an executive order creating the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity. The council, which is a partnership between public and private organizations across the state, is designed to keep Indiana safe from global cyber threats and to provide increased opportunities for cybersecurity companies and experts to work in Indiana.

“Israeli businesses today are global leaders in cybersecurity, an industry growing in one of the world’s top entrepreneurial hotspots,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “While Israelis are developing new and advanced strategies for addressing constantly evolving threats, Hoosiers are also leading top cybersecurity initiatives that are deployed at some of the top businesses around the world. By bringing everyone together in one room, Hoosier and Israeli cybersecurity leaders built relationships and shared ideas, which will help the industry grow and add more jobs here at home.”

The visit was part of Indiana’s continued efforts to strengthen its relationship with Israel, following last year’s Indiana-Israel Business Exchange, which focused on security and defense. Governor Pence led a jobs and economic development mission to Israel in 2014, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as leaders of several Israeli companies. A delegation of Hoosiers led by Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith also participated in an economic development mission to Israel earlier this year, with state leaders attending CyberTech 2016, the world’s second largest cybersecurity conference.

Trade between Israel and Indiana has experienced strong growth in recent years. Export of Indiana-built goods to Israel has more than doubled in the last decade, reaching $73.1 million just last year. Today more than 70 Hoosier companies do business in Israel, most recently with Israel-based auto supplier Omen Casting Group announcing in January that it is locating its first North American production facility in Richmond, Indiana.

PHOTO: Governor Pence presents Roey Gilad, the consul general to the U.S. Midwest from Israel, with an Honorary Hoosier Award yesterday at the Indiana-Israel Business Exchange at Interactive Intelligence, thanking him for his years of service strengthening relationships between the people of Israel and Indiana.

Indianapolis – Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith and Hobart Mayor Brian K. Snedecor joined executives of NB Coatings, a Japan-owned manufacturer of automotive coatings for plastics, today as the company broke ground on its new northwest Indiana facility, creating up to 22 new jobs by 2018.
“Among all U.S. states, Indiana has the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita with more than 250 Japan-based businesses operating in Indiana today,” said Governor Mike Pence. “As a state, we’ve made it a top priority to establish a pro-growth business environment that is attracting job creation from across the globe, and today I’m proud to welcome yet another international business to the Hoosier state. Leaders at NB Coatings had a world of options to consider for this new facility, but they chose Indiana because we are a state that works.”

NB Coatings North America, which is headquartered in Lansing, Illinois, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Paint, will invest more than $4.7 million to establish operations at NorthWind Crossings Industrial Park in Hobart. Developed and owned by Becknell Industrial, the new 124,800-square-foot structure will serve as a warehouse and distribution facility for finished products and raw materials for both domestic and transplant automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers across North America. A foam fire suppression system will be installed to ensure the product is stored safely.

“Since we service the automotive industry and tier suppliers, most of our customers are either north in Michigan and into Canada or south in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.  The U.S. growth of the industry is in the southeast. We quickly narrowed our search to an area that was close to our manufacturing plant in Lansing, Illinois, and also had very good access to the main north-south corridor of I-65 and the Michigan corridor of I-94,” said Jack Wickham, vice president for NB Coatings. “The site in Hobart is ideal for us. The developers, the city of Hobart, and the state of Indiana have been extremely helpful and welcoming. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Hobart, Northwest Indiana and the state of Indiana.”

NB Coatings, which currently employs 395 associates in North America, plans to start moving into the facility in January 2017 and begin hiring for material handling positions later this year. New positions are expected to pay average salaries above the Lake County average wage.

“We are honored that NB Coatings has chosen the city of Hobart to expand their business and welcome them in sharing our vision of Hobart and northwest Indiana as a world class place for a world class company to locate.” said Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor.  “We value our partnership with Becknell Industrial and look forward to working with a great company like NB Coatings.”

NB Coatings was established in Japan in 1971 as a joint venture between Bee Chemical and Nippon Paint, and the company now operates in Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Canada and Mexico. The company provides a full range of primers and adhesion promoters, basecoats/clearcoats, monocoats, lacquers and solvent blends for both interior and exterior applications.

NB Coatings joins a growing list of Japanese companies operating in Indiana, which is home to the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita. Today, more than 250 Japan-owned businesses operate here, supporting more than 53,680 Hoosiers. Just last week, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), which is Japan’s largest steel producer, announced plans to establish operations in Shelbyville, creating up to 70 new Hoosier jobs.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered NB Coatings up to $176,000 in conditional tax credits. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Hobart and Hobart City Council approved real estate property tax abatement for this project.