Ohio to Host 54th Annual Midwest US-Japan Conference in Columbus
May 07 2024 - 9:05AM
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio announced today that elected
officials and business leaders from Japan and other Midwestern U.S.
states will gather in Ohio to foster economic collaboration this
September as part of the 54th annual Midwest US-Japan (MWJA)
Conference. The conference will be jointly held by the Midwest
U.S.-Japan and Japan-Midwest U.S. associations; Honda, Ohio’s
largest Japanese employer, will be the title sponsor. The
conference will convene groups from across the Midwest and Japan,
including elected officials and businesses, to foster economic
collaboration between Midwestern states and Japan.
The host country rotates annually between the U.S. and Japan and
offers the ten U.S. member states the opportunity to host the
conference once every 20 years. More than 300 top officials and
business leaders are expected to attend, presenting Ohio with the
opportunity to stimulate investment opportunities that further
solidify the U.S. and Japan's partnership for a prosperous
future.
"Ohio is looking forward to hosting the esteemed MWJA Conference
right here in the heart of the Midwest," said Ohio Governor
Mike DeWine. "From Honda to Bridgestone, there is a long
history of prosperous collaboration between Ohio and Japan that has
created a business environment that benefits the global economy. As
the host of this year’s conference, Ohio has a unique opportunity
to showcase our innovative business landscape and our best-in-class
talent ecosystem that is driving the workforce of the future.”
The 2024 conference theme, "Building an Ecosystem for
Innovation, Growth & Sustainability,” symbolizes Ohio and
Japan's commitment to sustainable business practices that
contribute to growth now and into the future. Japan is one of
Ohio’s largest inbound international investors in terms of jobs
created, with more than 65,000 Ohioans employed at
435 Japanese-owned facilities.
“Japanese businesses are critical to the health of Ohio’s
economic infrastructure,” said Consul General of Japan in
Detroit Yusuke Shindo. “The MWJA Conference offers an
opportunity to promote trade and investments in the regions the
Consulate in Detroit oversees, which includes Ohio.”Since 2013,
Ohio has won more than 130 economic development projects with
Japanese-owned companies with the help of JobsOhio, the state's
economic development corporation. The projects are executed in
partnership with the JobsOhio Network Partners throughout the
state.
“I have had the privilege of visiting Japan, one of Ohio’s top
international investors, to build on existing relationships and
create new partnerships while participating in the MWJA Conference
in 2019,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “We
look forward to strengthening those ties as we welcome our friends
from Japan and throughout the Midwest to Ohio, which offers diverse
industry talent and customized business assistance. In 2023,
JobsOhio supported $221 million in Japanese capital investments
that will be a catalyst for growth in the fields of engineering,
advanced manufacturing, and protective coatings.”
Ambassadors will promote a variety of Ohio communities for
business investment, including its 16 major metropolitan areas,
while highlighting the competitive advantages Japanese companies
can expect when growing or expanding operations within the state.
As the 7th largest economy in the U.S., Ohio offers businesses an
abundance of construction-ready sites via the SiteOhio
Authenticated Sites program, a robust logistics infrastructure, and
one of the strongest workforces in the nation.
“Ohio’s selection as the host of this year’s MWJA Conference
truly underscores the importance of strong economic ties and
enduring friendships we have with Japan,” said Director of the Ohio
Department of Development Lydia Mihalik. “Since my first economic
development mission with Governor DeWine in 2019, we’ve worked hard
to nurture this friendship and create significant opportunities for
mutual prosperity. We look forward to showcasing the incredible
opportunities that Ohio offers Japanese businesses and investors,
and celebrating the cultural exchange that has enriched both of our
societies.”
The conference will be held September 8-10, 2024, at the newly
expanded Hilton Downtown Columbus. Additional information about the
MWJA Conference can be found online, and registration opens on May
13.
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About JobsOhioJobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic
development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel
development through business attraction, retention, and expansion
across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned
professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster
talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through
Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners,
including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic
Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus,
REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO,
JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies
with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:Dan Tierney, Ohio Governor Mike
DeWine614-644-0957dan.tierney@governor.ohio.gov
Matt Englehart, JobsOhio614-300-1152englehart@jobsohio.com
Matt Englehart
JobsOhio
614-300-1152
englehart@jobsohio.com