Gov. Eric Holcomb will depart Thursday on his second international trade mission, leading a delegation of business leaders and economic development officials to Japan to attract new investment and jobs to Indiana.
Holcomb will be joined by Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman and Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp., along with Kathy Ertel with Jennings County Economic Development.
“As Indiana’s largest foreign investor, Japan and its business sector contribute greatly to our state and to Hoosiers,” Holcomb said.
In his 33 years as executive director of JCIDC, Plump has made more than 25 trips to Japan.
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The seven Japanese-based firms employ nearly 3,100 workers in Jackson County. That list includes Aisin USA Manufacturing Inc., 1,997; Seymour Tubing Inc., 548; and Aisin Drivetrain Inc., 400.
The more than 280 business facilities operating in Indiana employ more than 58,000 people, and the Hoosier State has the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita in the country. Indiana also is the only state with three Japanese automotive manufacturers: Honda, Subaru and Toyota.
Many Indiana-based companies, including Eli Lilly, Cook Medical, Cummins, Urschel Laboratories and Zimmer Biomet, have operations in Japan. The state also has five Japanese-language Saturday schools, and more than 4,400 Hoosier students participate in Japanese language programs.
On Saturday, Holcomb and the delegation will travel by train from Tokyo to Tochigi Prefecture to commemorate Indiana’s sister-state relationship with Tochigi, which was established in 1999.
In Tokyo, the governor will attend opening events Sunday for the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference, including a joint governors meeting and welcome reception. Holcomb, one of five U.S. governors scheduled to attend the conference, also will meet with the chairman of the Japan External Trade Organization, which focuses on promoting global trade.
On Sept. 13, the Indiana delegation will travel by train to Aichi Prefecture, where Holcomb will conduct business meetings with Toyota Industries, Toyota Boshoku, Aisin and NTN Corp., which all provide jobs at manufacturing facilities in Indiana.
Prior to departing Japan on Sept. 15, Holcomb will meet with Aichi Gov. Hideaki Ohmura to discuss ongoing opportunities for economic collaboration between Indiana and Aichi Prefecture, which is the manufacturing center of Japan.
Staff members from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and governor’s office, along with two members of the governor’s security detail, also will travel to Japan. The cost of the state delegation is being covered through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.
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Japanese-based companies in Jackson County
Company;Location;Employees
Aisin Chemical Indiana LLC;Crothersville;101
Aisin Drivetrain Inc.;Crothersville;400
Aisin Holdings of America Inc.;Seymour;NA
Aisin USA Manufacturing Inc.;Seymour;1,997
Cummins Komatsu Engine Co.;Seymour;NA
O&k American Corp.;Seymour;45
Seymour Tubing Inc.;Seymour;548
Source: Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. (updated April 2017)
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