Southern Indiana Business Report
VINCENNES – Beginning an extensive Japan Trade Mission on Sept. 4, Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development, noted that “Knox County represents a great fit for Japanese companies, given our strengths in advanced manufacturing, agri-business, logistics, and renewable energy.”
Pfaff and Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum joined the mayors of Columbus, Greensburg, Seymour and Wabash and other Indiana economic development and trade professionals to travel to Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya for meetings that included the Midwest US-Japan Conference and the World Expo in Japan, which focuses on economic growth and innovation.
With the significant local operations of automotive parts manufacturer Futaba Indiana of America and automotive plastic molded parts manufacturer Excell USA, Knox County directly benefits from major Japanese Foreign Direct Investment.
“We’re traveling to Japan to continue building relationships with Japanese business leaders and explore new opportunities for growth and partnership,” Pfaff explained. “With face-to-face gatherings and meetings, we can highlight Knox County strengths and directly learn about the priorities of Japanese companies during this time of trade policy changes.”
During the trip, Yochum and Pfaff will participate in private meetings with senior executives of Japanese companies investing in Knox County.
The full group will take part in a Friends of Indiana private reception in Tokyo on Sept. 9 with Japanese business and national leadership. Supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Japan-America Society of Indiana, the gathering is scheduled to include a special video greeting from Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. The Indiana mayors attending will also be formally introduced and recognized.
A second Indiana reception with elected officials and Japanese business executives will take place in Nagoya on Sept. 11, also sponsored by IEDC. The reception will focus on the strategic value of engaging with Indiana.
Highlighting successful prior job creation and investments from Japanese companies, Pfaff plans to emphasize during the trip that “Knox County is open for business and ready to be a trusted global partner.” He added that “this current trip represents a broader long-term strategy to continue to diversify the Knox County regional economy and to heighten awareness of Knox County’s advantages of central location reaching the American population, a strong workforce, our pro-business environment, and our new market rate housing developments.”
According to the Consulate-General Office of Japan in Chicago, more than 300 Japanese-related companies operate today in Indiana, employing nearly 70,000 Hoosiers. Indiana is home to the largest Japanese Foreign Direct Investment in the Midwest.
Mayor Yochum and KCIED CEO Pfaff previously took part in a Japanese trade mission in 2023. “KCIED is focused on both attracting new companies and especially helping support those companies who have already invested in Knox County,” he said. “Helping our existing Japanese companies thrive is a top priority.”
Organizations supporting the Indiana trade mission and receptions include Hoosier Energy, Indy Partnership, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Pursue Research Foundation, South Central Economic Development Group, Duke Energy, Japan-America Society of Indiana, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.