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TOKYO (Sept. 12, 2017) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb continued his international trade mission this week in Tokyo, furthering Indiana's economic partnerships with Japan. The governor signed an historic memorandum of cooperation with the government of Japan to advance collaborative efforts toward two-way investment, trade and workforce development, and met with executives of Japan-based companies with operations in Indiana. 

"After three full days in Tokyo, I couldn't be more excited for the future of our relationship with Japan," Gov. Holcomb said. "Our meetings with Japanese business and government leaders continue to strengthen the economic and cultural bonds that unite us. We're grateful for the trust they've placed in our state and I know our Hoosier workforce will continue to deliver."

The memorandum, which was signed with Japan's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, includes 10 focus areas of cooperation with mutual benefit, including economic development and investment, workforce development, advanced manufacturing and materials, automotive, aerospace and aviation, infrastructure, life sciences, agribusiness, information technology and academics. Indiana is one of the first states to sign such an agreement with Japan with the goal of deepening the already strong economic and trade relations between Indiana and Japan.

In Tokyo, Gov. Holcomb joined fellow U.S. and Japan governors at the 49th annual Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference, which convenes business and government representatives from 10 Midwest states and Japan. During the conference, Gov. Holcomb met with Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty to discuss the importance of Indiana's relationship with Japan.
Following the conference, Gov. Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger met with executives of Japan-based companies with operations in Indiana, including:

• Subaru, which is celebrating 30 years of operations in Lafayette this year;
• Honda, which employs more than 2,300 Hoosiers at its Greensburg facility;
• Mitsubishi Corporation, which is the parent company of Indiana Packers pork processing in Delphi and Nikkei M.C. Aluminum America in Columbus;
• Kimura Foundry, which recently announced plans to establish its first overseas factory in Shelbyville;
• Hitachi, which is one of the largest Japanese multinational conglomerates and operates five subsidiaries in Indiana;
• Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation, which operates I/N Kote and I/N Tek in New Carlisle, Indiana Precision Forge in Shelbyville, Seymour Tubing, and in 2016, announced plans to establish a $50 million facility in Shelbyville to process cold heading steel wire; 
• Ryobi Ltd., which operates its only U.S. manufacturing facility in Shelbyville; and
• Keihin, a tier 1 automotive supplier with three Indiana locations that employ more than 1,400 Hoosiers.

Gov. Holcomb and members of the Indiana delegation also met with two of Japan's largest business chambers: Keidanren, the largest business lobby in Japan with more than 1,300 representative companies, and Keizai Doyukai, an association of corporate executives. They also met with representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization to highlight the importance of the Indiana-Japan relationship.
Japan is Indiana's largest foreign investor with 280 Japan-based companies that employ more than 58,000 Hoosiers. Japan also supports many locations of Indiana-based firms, including Eli Lilly, Cook Medical, Urschel Laboratories and Zimmer Biomet. For more information regarding the governor's upcoming schedule and the economic ties between Indiana and Japan, visit http://www.in.gov/gov/japan2017.htm. 



About IEDC

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

Media Contact:  

Abby Gras (IEDC) – 317.232.8845 or agras@iedc.in.gov