Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers concluded an economic development trip to Asia on Friday, wrapping up a week in Japan and the Republic of Korea focused on accelerating investment and innovation in high-growth, future-focused industries.
“The time spent in Japan and South Korea was another great opportunity to show the world why Indiana is a great place to live and do business,” said Sec. Chambers. “In Japan, our workforce and automotive partnerships are prime to deliver innovations in the future of mobility, and in South Korea, our relationships continue to grow as Indiana’s battery and electric vehicle industries accelerate. I’m confident we will see tangible results for Hoosiers stemming from our discussions and new connections made.”
In Tokyo, Sec. Chambers met with government officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, to discuss the strong ties between Indiana and Japan and opportunities to strengthen that partnership and the future of mobility. Indiana is home to the highest concentration of Japanese investment among all U.S. states, shares a sister-state relationship with Tochigi Prefecture, and operates memorandums of understanding with the Government of Japan as well as Aichi Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture focused on two-way investment, academic partnerships and workforce development collaborations.
Sec. Chambers also met with some of Indiana’s largest Japanese employers, including Toyota Motor Corporation, Subaru and Aisin Corporation, to thank them for their commitment to Hoosiers and their contributions to Indiana’s economy and communities. The Secretary also met with leadership of the Japan Business Federation to strengthen investment- and innovation-focused partnerships and opportunities.
On Wednesday, Sec. Chambers traveled to Seoul to lead Indiana’s participation in the InterBattery Conference – Korea’s leading battery exhibition. Indiana, joined by leadership of the Applied Research Institute and the Battery Innovation Center, was one of eight states invited by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to exhibit within the conference’s U.S. pavilion.
At the conference, Indiana’s competitive business climate, innovation ecosystem and growing battery and electric vehicle industry took center stage. The IEDC’s exhibit highlighted state innovations and featured its recent “Indiana is for Winners” marketing campaign, while the Indiana delegation met with new business prospects.
In Seoul, Sec. Chambers also hosted a Friends of Indiana reception with U.S., Korean and global business and industry leaders to highlight the growing partnerships between Indiana and South Korea and to meet with business prospects in critical industries, such as life sciences and semiconductors.
Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories – including more than 300 from Japan and 12 from South Korea. This concludes Sec. Chambers’ second trip to Korea and first trip to Japan as Indiana Secretary of Commerce.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is charged with growing the State economy, driving economic development, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Led by Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers, @SecChambersIN, and governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, @GovHolcomb, 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 iedc.in.gov.
Media Contact:
Erin Sweitzer, IEDC
esweitzer@iedc.in.gov
317.296.2556
