INDIANAPOLIS (May 5, 2007) - Governor Mitch Daniels and a state delegation will head to two European countries next week to continue efforts to bring jobs and investment to Indiana and strengthen relationships with companies that employ Hoosiers in their Indiana operations. The governor will visit Germany and the United Kingdom during the weeklong trip that begins on May 12.
"It's always a good idea to thank your customers, those who are insourcing jobs to Indiana," said Daniels. "We believe it's important to maintain existing business relationships and explore how we can get others started."
The 32-member delegation includes state, business and community representatives who will participate in continuing Indiana's economic comeback. The delegation will tour Toyota's F-1 research and development facility in Cologne and participate in a bio-energy roundtable discussion in Germany. In London, the group will have the opportunity to attend a conference sponsored by the United Kingdom's leading trade association for the automotive industry.
The delegation will arrive in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 13. The following morning, the governor will meet with Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of DaimlerChrysler, followed by one with Bernd Gottschalk, president of the respected German Association of the Automotive Industry.
On May 15, Daniels will meet with executives from the Getrag Corporate Group and tour Toyota's F-1 research and development facility as well as participate in the bio-energy roundtable discussion with representatives of the Government of Nordrhein-Westfalen in Dusseldorf.
Daniels also will meet with executives of Schott, Schwarz Pharma and the Freudenberg Group while in Germany.
At midweek, the delegation continues to London, where the governor will have afternoon meetings with executives from Knauf Insulation and Keronite, Inc. The following day, May 17, Daniels will meet with Lakshmi N. Mittal, founder, president and CEO of Arcelor Mittal. Mittal Steel employs nearly 9,500 Hoosiers in Northwest Indiana. The governor also visits Robert H. Tuttle, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
On the final full day of the trip, Governor Daniels will make opening remarks at the Business Opportunities in the Americas conference sponsored by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited. Participants include companies representing advanced engineering, aerospace, automotive and mobility. He'll also meet with Frank Cheng, CEO of U.K.-based Oxford Biosignals Medical, which announced in March it would establish its global life sciences corporate headquarters in Carmel and bring 120 high-paying jobs.
The governor also will meet with the British American Business Council and executives from BAE Systems and Tate & Lyle while in the United Kingdom. He and the delegation also will attend a reception with members of the U.K. Motorsports Association.
"We select trade mission trips based on where we think the chance of return is highest," said Daniels. "We'll talk about the welcoming climate in Indiana and what we're doing to make our state an even more attractive place to do business.
Germany's capital investment in Indiana is $8.6 billion; the United Kingdom's investment is nearly $8 billion. Japan ($8.7 billion) has the largest capital investment in Indiana. More than 52,000 Hoosiers are employed by more than 150 companies based in the U.K. and Germany that have operations in Indiana. The governor previously has led successful missions to Japan in 2005 and Japan and South Korea in 2006.
The delegation returns to Indiana on May 19.
Members of the delegation are:
Governor Mitch Daniels
Nate Feltman, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Chad Sweeney, IEDC
Stephen Akard, IEDC
Edita Ubartaite, IEDC
Michael Kruger, IEDC-Europe
Andy Miller, Indiana Department of Agriculture
Beth Bechdol, Indiana Department of Agriculture
State Senator Sue Landske
State Senator James Lewis
State Representative Matthew Whetstone
State Representative Dennie Oxley
Ben Ledo, Governor's staff
Jane Jankowski, Governor's staff
Two members of the governor's security detail will travel as will Tom Dusing from Carefree Travel.
Members of the business and community delegation:
Marie-Christine Pence, Duke Energy
Melissa Reese, Ice Miller, LLP
Don Babcock, Northern Indiana Public Service Company
Michael Duff, The Reimbursement Group
Ed Simcox, Indiana Energy Association
Christine Keck, Old National Bank
Kyle Hupfer, ProLiance Energy
David Bramlage, Cole Hardwood, Inc.
Ray Moistner, Indiana Hardwoods and Lumbermen's Association
Kenneth Yerkes, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Frank Hoffman, Krieg DeVault LLP
Terry Anker, Matrix Global Partners
Gordon Hendry, The Indy Partnership
Jim Dinkle, Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
Bill Nolting, Washington County Economic Growth Partnership, Inc.
Eugene McCracken, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council
John Sampson, Northeast Indiana Regional Marketing Partnership
Sven Schumacher, Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services (Mr. Schumacher is a volunteer who is assisting the IEDC with the delegation)
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