Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith, IEDC representatives and delegates from the South Central Indiana Economic Development Region just returned from a Japan Investment Trade Mission. The South Central Economic Development Region spans a 10-county area and has 45 Japanese companies employing more than 16,000 Hoosiers. Delegates included elected officials, Mayor Craig Luedeman from Seymour, Mayor Harold Campbell from North Vernon, and City Councilman Jim Leinhoop from Columbus as well as local economic development executives from the region and private partners. Meeting with more than 24 Japanese companies over the course of the trip, the trade mission was a huge success.
Starting in Tokyo, Secretary Smith and IEDC staff, including Trevor Lane, Paul Roland, and Toshikazu “Tony” Suzuki, met with 15 companies in two days to provide information on the State’s vibrant economy and pro-business climate, to thank the companies for their existing investments, and to discuss opportunities for additional investment. These meetings included KYB Corporation, Kuraray, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Pipe, Hitachi Chemical, Sojitz Corporation, Komatsu, Idemitsu Kosan, and Fuji Seal. The entire delegation also met with JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) at its headquarters where Secretary Smith led a discussion on mutual promotion for economic development. To promote investment opportunities in the State and local public private partnerships as a means to further additional economic development, Secretary Smith and Paul Roland presented during meetings with companies including Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, the West Nippon Expressway Company Limited, the Japanese Overseas Construction Association, and Kajima Corporation.
The stay in Tokyo concluded with the South Central Indiana Reception at the Imperial Hotel. The reception was a resounding success with over 80 attendees from over 50 Japanese companies. Secretary Smith delivered keynote remarks emphasizing the State’s strong ties with Japan, the gratitude of the State and the region for Japanese investments that have not only contributed to and benefited from the employment of Hoosiers, but have also enriched the communities themselves.
After the trip to Tokyo, the group set its sights on Nagoya, the regional home of many companies with Indiana investments. There, Secretary Smith and IEDC staff met with Toyota Materials Handling Group, Toyo Corporation, Kojima Industries, Aisin Seiki, Aisin Chemical, and two target companies with current Indiana expansion projects in discussion. The centerpiece of the Nagoya trip was the South Central Indiana reception held at the Nagoya Marriott. Over 50 attendees from over 30 Japanese companies attended. Secretary Smith delivered keynote remarks emphasizing Nagoya and Indiana’s place as the respective heart of the heartland of both countries and the South Central region’s gratitude for and success with Japanese investment.
The IEDC looks forward to our next delegation trip to Japan and wants to remind people to utilize our Japan-based State Office resource in Tony Suzuki to help chase and land your potential opportunities.