Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS – Former Vice President Mike Pence will speak on the U.S.-Japan relationship as a “cornerstone of peace, prosperity and freedom” in the Asia-Pacific region at the Japan-America Society of Indiana Gala Oct. 17 in Indianapolis.
Amid concern for the threat to democracy coming from China, Russia, North Korea and others, Pence will share his insights on the heightened importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship and global alliances to meet and counter increasing geopolitical challenges.
“Given his continued leadership role in international and national affairs, Vice President Pence holds a unique vantage of the U.S.-Japan relationship and its critical economic and political importance to both the nation and our state,” said Theresa Kulczak, JASI executive director. “The United States and Japan jointly face many new developments from shifts in global and regional power balances, and we look forward to hearing Vice President Pence’s insights and perspectives.”
JASI will also confer the JASI Bridge of Friendship Award on Pence, who also served as the 50th governor of Indiana, in recognition of distinguished leadership in support of relations between the two counties.
In addition to comments from Pence, the Oct. 17 JASI Gala will feature remarks from The Honorable Jun Yanagi, Consul-General of Japan in Chicago, and Takashi Nakagawa, Chief Executive Director of JETRO Chicago.
“Japan has been the world’s No. 1 investor to the U.S. for four consecutive years, creating nearly one million U.S. jobs,” noted Consul-General Jun Yanagi, highlighting the importance the Japanese nation places on the United States. He added: “In Indiana alone, 313 Japanese business facilities provide 70,000 U.S. jobs.”
This major job creation is representative of the fact that Japanese companies have invested more than $11.7 billion in their Indiana operations since 2003.
One of those is M&C Tech in Washington. The manufacturer of plastic parts to Tier 1 automotive suppliers and original equipment manufacturers was the first Japanese company to establish a manufacturing company in the Radius Indiana region. M&C Tech Indiana Corporation is a joint venture between two Japanese companies Moriroku Chemicals and Chubu Kagaku.
Radius Indiana has traveled to Japan and hosted events in the Radius region to build friendships with Japanese economic leaders and investors.
In February, Radius Indiana hosted a Japan Friendship Dinner & Reception. Guests included Consul-General Yanagi of Japan in Chicago, Hiroyuki Nemoto, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), mayors and local economic development officers from the eight-county Radius region.
“Indiana represents the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita among all U.S. states and is one of only two American states that are home to three Japanese original equipment manufacturers, Honda, Subaru and Toyota,” Kulczak continued. “We anticipate strong interest in these remarks.”
The JASI executive director noted that the combination of Pence with regional Japanese government leaders is expected to provide “substantial insight” for Indiana and regional executives and policy leaders. “This evening promises to be a worthy and memorable event,” she said.
The Japan-America Society of Indiana’s annual gala brings together corporate and community leaders across Indiana and the Midwest region.
Details about the Oct. 17 event at the Indiana Ballroom are available online [https://www.japanindiana.org/english/index.html] or by calling 317-635-0123.
Gala Sponsors: AISIN; Barnes & Thornburg; Honda Indiana Auto Plant; Hoosier Energy; Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Subaru of Indiana Automotive; Toyota Indiana; Duke Energy; Eli Lilly & Company; Force Construction Company, Inc.; Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation; NTN; Toyota Material Handling; Cornerstone Environmental, Health & Safety, a Foresight Partner Company; Elwood Staffing; Gaylor Electric; Hitachi Astemo Indiana; Integrity Metals; INzone; MEK Group; Ogletree Deakins; Radius Indiana; Seymour-Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation; Stratosphere Quality; TASUS/Tsuchiya Group North America; TOA (USA)
With support from: Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago; JETRO Chicago
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About the Japan-America Society of Indiana (JASI)
The Japan-America Society of Indiana (JASI) is a not-for-profit cultural and educational organization whose mission is to serve as a bridge of friendship between the people of Indiana and Japan through the promotion of cultural understanding and economic partnerships. The Society is supported by a statewide membership of businesses, communities, academic institutions, families, and individuals.
JASI sponsors a wide range of cultural events, networking receptions, public affairs programs and business briefings that explore current issues in the Japan-U.S. relationship