Midwest
U.S. - Japan Connection

The 38th Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest U.S. – Japan and Japan – Midwest U.S. Associations convened in Indianapolis from Sunday, September 10 through Tuesday, September 12, 2006, attended by more than 570 representatives from the Midwestern United States and Japan. Lively discussions centered on the main theme of “Midwest U.S. – Japan: Racing to the Future Together”. As the delegate of Montgomery County and Crawfordsville, I wanted to bring back some of the highlights of the conference and how they relate to our community.

The Japanese delegation included His Excellency Ryozo Kato, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, Consul General of Chicago and Acting Consul General of Detroit. Other top company executives from Toyota, Honda and Toshiba were also in attendance.

The Midwest region was represented by Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and 4 other Governors from Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Speakers representing the private sector included the presidents of Eli Lilly and Company, Duke Nuclear, Delphi Electronics and Safety, Lear Corporation, and Northwest Airlines. Additional guest speakers were the President and CEO of FedEx, Frederick Smith, Ambassador Howard Baker and former US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage.

Since 1967, the Annual Joint Meeting of the two associations has served as the principal forum for trade and investment discussions between Japan and America’s Midwest region.

Throughout the conference, delegates reconfirmed the innovation and differentiation could prove to be highly advantageous in the competitive business arena where globalization is accelerating at a rapid pace. In particular, in the fields of advanced technologies including IT, life science and new materials, these advancements contribute to a more progressive business environment and quality of life. Other valuable discussions were made on the growing Asian economy, with a focus on China, where there are huge potential markets, global hubs for manufacturing and some business risk. Delegates identified new issues such as environment, energy, EPA, infectious diseases and terrorism, and stressed that active exchange of information and positive discussions for solutions between US and Japan were continuously to be conducted. Delegates from both Japanese and Midwestern corporations agreed to contribute to the vitalization of bi-lateral trade and investment through mutual cooperation, based upon the strong trust cultivated between our two Associations over the years.

The opportunity for our community is the development of new business along the Nucor Road Industrial Corridor to support the growth of Toyota and Honda in Indiana. MCED is working with these companies, our regional development group and the state, to make them aware of the excellent infrastructure and workforce in Montgomery County.

Our own Japanese company, Heritage Products, will be hosting the MCED Presidents Club Breakfast this month. We hope to identify any potential additional business for them as Crawfordsville is positioned very nicely between the two new Honda and Toyota projects.

To learn more about Montgomery County Economic Development and the excellent career opportunities in our community, please visit our website at www.hoosieremployer.com

Bill Henderson
Executive Director, MCED

765-362-6851