We live in a rapidly-evolving economy, and Indiana continues to position itself at the forefront, adapting to new challenges and ways of thinking. With global markets more connected now than ever before, the opportunities and challenges we face in the world today are shared. They are defined less by geography and more by the ability to share ideas and work together to create innovative solutions around universal issues.
On April 26-28, 2020 Indiana is bringing these conversations to the heart of the U.S., convening thought leaders, decision makers and trailblazers from around the world at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in Indianapolis. While these same conversations are already happening on the coasts, we’re in a unique position in the Heartland, the Crossroads of America, to be at the center of them all. Because, in Indiana, we understand that to compete in a global economy, we must learn from one another and work together to enhance industry, attract talent, improve connectivity, and build a better future for the people of our state, our nation and our world.
This exciting three-day event is designed to share best practices and foster collaboration. With captivating speakers and programming focused on global topics like food security, technology disruption, Industry 4.0 and more, the Summit will provide the opportunity for global leaders and businesses to discover new ideas, make connections, and develop new economic and cultural partnerships that will be vital to our shared success.
In addition to the main programming, the event includes special breakouts from international media partners like Bloomberg Media, Forbes, Chief Executive Magazine and Financial Times. Attendees can sit in on sessions with industry analysts and gain an in-depth understanding of international issues from experts – all at the Indiana Convention Center.
Our phenomenal lineup of speakers will discuss the future of advanced manufacturing, the future of agbiosciences, the future of aerospace and defense, and the list goes on and on.
In Indiana, we’ve long been known as the Crossroads of America, offering companies ease of access to North American and global markets, but now we’re thinking bigger and growing globally, working every day to create new connections between our state and the rest of the world. In 2019 alone, state leaders traveled to nine countries, meeting with business prospects, government leaders and industry partners, and hosted delegations from 13 countries in Indiana.
In Indiana, state leaders work hard every day to advance our top-ranked business climate that encourages growth, supports collaboration and fosters innovation. Hoosiers are developing life-changing and life-saving solutions across the state at global corporations, startups and renowned universities. We are uniquely positioned to be a leader in the 21st century digital economy, and we look forward to convening partners here in the heart of the Midwest to build on this momentum, propelling long-term economic growth and cultural relationships.
In 2019, the state’s international engagement efforts paid off handsomely with seven memoranda of understanding developing between Indiana and partners across the world, including Hungary, Canada, India and Slovakia. Indiana leaders continue to collaborate with their diplomatic and business counterparts to tackle universal questions around sustainable growth, the impact of emerging technologies on the manufacturing sector, workforce pipeline strategies and placemaking. The exchange of information with other cities and countries around the world provides a broad platform for the exchange of ideas and establishes the state as a destination for innovative approaches to business attraction and growth. These working agreements foster cooperation with partner nations to solidify burgeoning relationships across the globe, advance two-way investment in key sectors, generate long-term dialogue, and raise Indiana’s global profile as an international leader in business attraction and job creation.
The results of our efforts are clear: approximately 1,030 foreign-owned companies doing business across Indiana supporting 203,000 jobs throughout the state. Between 2016-2018, foreign direct investment committed to the state increased by 300%. Indiana’s long-term strategy to engage foreign business and government has created a strong footprint of international investments and partnerships that continue to benefit both Hoosiers and the companies that employ them.
The Indiana Global Economic Summit is more than a conference. It’s an opportunity for the Midwest to immerse in global issues that impact communities here and around the globe. Whether it’s developing pharmaceuticals and medical devices, enhancing farming operations with applied automated intelligence, or using advanced composite materials to design more energy efficient technologies, products and solutions developed in Indiana have a tangible impact on people across the world. With a top-ranked climate for business and entrepreneurship and a commitment to taking our state to the Next Level, Indiana is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in shaping the 21st century global economy. Go to indianaglobalsummit.com to join us in Indianapolis this April to continue the conversation.
