INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2006) ? Attracting new jobs, telling the world about Indiana?s welcome environment for investment, and thanking existing employers of Hoosiers will be the themes of Governor Mitch Daniels? upcoming mission to Asia.

?Indiana is proving that we can compete and win in the global competition for investment and jobs. I?ll go anywhere there might be the possibility to produce more Hoosier paychecks,? said Daniels.

The governor and more than 50 state, civic, business, and agricultural leaders will depart Indianapolis on June 17 and return on June 28. The group will visit numerous companies that have invested in Indiana, promote Indiana hardwoods, meet with various government officials and see Hoosier soldiers stationed in South Korea.

Those traveling with the governor include an ?official delegation? of 28 people and a ?community delegation? of 31 people. The official delegation will attend all events, and members of the community delegation will participate in events and meetings that involve their business or interest.

No meeting is scheduled with Honda Motor Corporation during the trip. Early in planning for this mission, before discussion that Honda would build a new North American facility and that Indiana was among sites for consideration, the state had sought a meeting with the company in Japan. Honda has indicated it prefers not to meet with any governors and other state officials during the latter stages of its decision process in an effort to be fair to everyone. The state understands and respects that position and has withdrawn the request, Daniels said.

?We?ll continue our conversations through the appropriate channels, and regardless of the outcome of the current plant discussion, we look forward to building a strong relationship with this universally admired company,? said the governor.

The delegation will arrive in Japan on June 18. The following morning will be highlighted by meetings with Mitsubishi Corporation and Sony Corporation.

The Indiana delegation will travel on June 20 to Nagoya, Japan ? world headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation and many of its supplier companies. The governor will meet with Toyota Industries, Aisin Seiki, and Toyota Motor Corporation and will tour one of Toyota Motor Corporation?s manufacturing facilities in Nagoya. Following Daniels? first visit to Japan last year, Toyota announced plans to create 1,000 jobs in Lafayette and make Indiana the only state in the nation with two separate Toyota Assembly facilities.

On June 21, Daniels will travel to Ota City and visit another company connected to the Toyota Lafayette expansion ? Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru Motors. Subaru will build Toyota Camrys in an unused portion of its Lafayette facility. Daniels also will host a reception for Japanese businesses in the area to learn more about Indiana.

?Thinking about the customers one already has is good manners, but also good business. The expansion of companies already in Indiana is an even more promising source of new jobs than new business from first-time investors,? said Daniels.

Again this year, Governor Daniels? youngest daughter, Maggie, will travel with him (at the governor?s personal expense). She will speak to students in Japan and South Korea and represent the state at various functions. On June 22, Maggie Daniels will meet with Indianapolis high school student Case Calvert and join him on his tour of a Japanese animation studio. Calvert has been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, and it has been his dream to see Japanese animators in person. Following their morning tour, Maggie and Case will have lunch with the governor. Later in the day, Daniels will join the Indiana Department of Agriculture at a showcase of Indiana hardwood products.

On June 23, Daniels will meet with executives from Keihin Corporation, NTN Driveshaft, and Mitsui Mining and Smelting. That evening, he will join US Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer at a reception for Tokyo area businesses interested in Indiana.

The delegation will travel to Seoul, South Korea on June 24. On June 25, the governor and Maggie Daniels will visit with Hoosier soldiers stationed in South Korea and visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The governor will deliver remarks to a Rotary Club luncheon on June 26 and meet with Kokam Corporation. He will also join US Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow for a reception at the ambassador?s residence. On June 27, he will meet with Hanwha Corporation, deliver luncheon remarks to the Korea-US Economic Council, and meet with executives from appliance manufacturer LG.

The governor and the delegation will return to Indiana from Korea on June 28.

Members of the official delegation are:
Governor Mitch Daniels
Maggie Daniels
Mickey Maurer, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Nathan Feltman, IEDC
Stephen Akard, IEDC
Kai Chuck, IEDC
Andy Miller, Indiana Department of Agriculture
Matt Harrod, Agriculture
Beth Bechdol, Agriculture
Ron Christian, Vectren
Toyoharu Tamura, Fort Wayne-Allen Economic Development Alliance
Bob Hutchings, Cinery/PSI
Steve Corwell, Indianapolis Power & Light
Melissa Reese, Ice Miller LLP
Theresa Kulczak, Japan-America Society of Indiana
Peter Morse, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Christopher Murphy, 1st Source
E. Roy Budd, Energize ECI
Kristin Jones, Indy Partnership
Don Babcock, NIPSCO
Robert Schumacher, Delphi Delco Electronics Systems
Danielle Chrysler, Governor?s Office
Ben Ledo, Governor?s Office
Marc Lotter, Governor?s Office
Tom Dusing, Carefree Travel
Three members of the governor?s security team also will travel.

Members of the community delegation are:
Hideyuki Kawashima, MJ Insurance, Japanese Business Division
Larry Ingraham, Ingraham & Assoc
Bill Dory, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center
Takayasu Hara, Fifth Third Bank
Kevin Hipskind, Fifth Third Bank
Tony Roswarski, Mayor, Lafayette
Jody Hamilton, Lafayette-West Lafayette Economic Development Corporation
Cinda Kelley, Lafayette-West Lafayette Economic Development Corporation
John Taylor, Morgan County Economic Development Corporation
Harold Force, Force Construction Company, Inc.
Mick Nakada, Force Construction Company, Inc.
Dan Canan, Mayor, Muncie
Terry Murphy, Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance
Larry Crouch, Delaware County Commission
Larry Leach, Mayor, Gas City
Tim Harris, State Representative, Marion
Wayne Seybold, Mayor, Marion
Bryan Coats, New Castle/Henry County Economic Devevelopment
Yoshi Imagawa, American Keeper Corporation
Alan Wilhoite, Indiana Pork Producers Association
David Bramlage, Cole Hardwood, Inc.
Jason Hester, City of Kokomo
Matt McKillip, Mayor, Kokomo
Greg Aaron, Kokomo-Howard County Development Corporation
Bob Hayes, Delphi Electronics & Safety
Brandt Burdick, National City Bank
Take Takamura, National City Bank
Mike Piggott, Purdue University
Hiroaki Nishikawa, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Steve Shook, The Shook Agency
Gerald Lamkin, President, Ivy Tech