Media Invited to Japan-Northeast Indiana Summit

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – More than 280 Japanese-owned businesses operate in Indiana demonstrating the strength and positive economic impact of the long-standing relationship between Indiana and Japan. Japanese companies have 24 locations in 10 counties in Northeast Indiana, employing thousands of people.

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, in collaboration with the office of the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and JTL America, will host the Japan-Northeast Indiana Summit from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.

The media is invited to learn more about Japan-Indiana business relations from industry experts representing Japan, the State of Indiana and local government and economic development organizations. Speakers will include Consul-General of Japan in Chicago Naoki Ito, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger, Japanese company representatives and Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry.

Interviews with Consul-General Ito and Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger will occur at 11 a.m., and members of the media are encouraged to stay for the discussions.

Consul-General Ito represents Indiana and nine other Midwestern states. The main purposes of the office are to serve Japanese nationals, represent the Japanese government and to provide travel services and information about Japan to non-Japanese residents. On the economic front, he communicates with businesses in his 10-state jurisdiction and helps provide connections for companies looking to do business in Japan.

Important facts about Indiana’s economic ties to Japan:

1. More than 280 Japanese-owned business facilities operate across Indiana, employing more than 58,000 associates. Northeast Indiana is home to 24 of these business locations.
2. Among all U.S. states, Indiana has the highest Japanese investment per capita.
3. Since 2013, the state has secured nearly 70 commitments from Japan-based companies to locate or grow in Indiana, which project to create more than 7,600 new jobs and invest $3.16 billion in their Indiana operations.
4. Exporting $1.6 billion of Hoosier-made goods to Japan in 2016, Indiana counts Japan as its fifth-largest export partner.
5. Many Indiana-based companies, including Eli Lilly, Cook Medical, Cummins, Urschel Laboratories and Zimmer Biomet, have operations in Japan.
6. 13 communities in Indiana have established sister-city relationships with Japanese cities including Fort Wayne’s sister city in Takaoka, Japan.
7. More than 4,400 Hoosier students at 45 schools across the state participate in Japanese language programs.

*Source: Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)

To learn more, visit the website at www.neindiana.com/news.

About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to build, market and sell Northeast Indiana to increase business investment. Founded in 2006, the public-private partnership strives to build a globally competitive region. The Partnership’s Vision 2030 framework supports collaborative regional efforts to increase per capita income, population growth and educational attainment by focusing on business attraction, talent attraction and talent development. The Partnership represents 11 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. For more information, visit www.neindiana.com.
 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate Virag
Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Communications
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
260.414.2431
kate@NEIndiana.com