A Japanese official who works to build relationships with Midwestern states will deliver the keynote address at the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corp.’s annual meeting.
Naoki Ito, the Chicago-based consul-general of Japan, will visit Columbus for the second time when he speaks at the annual lunch meeting, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 at The Commons. He is expected to discuss the importance of U.S.-Japan trade relations and the need to further strengthen them, said Jason Hester, president of the economic development corporation.
Ito will also discuss contributions from and impact of 27 Japanese-based businesses on the Columbus area economy, Hester said.
Ito visited the city Oct. 24 during a visit to Indiana that included attending a reception by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for the governor of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture. Ito met with Mayor Jim Lienhoop to discuss U.S.-Japanese trade relations and tour several aspects of the city, including:
Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing plant
The Our House Japan exhibit at the kidscommons children’s museum
Friendship Alley in downtown Columbus
Japanese-based companies employ nearly 6,000 local residents in Columbus and Bartholomew County, Hester said.
The first Japanese company to locate in Columbus was Enkei America, which produces aluminum wheels, in 1985. Three years later, Toyota Industries — which has become one of the biggest Columbus employers with about 1,400 workers — established a local presence and in 1990 opened its Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing plant, which builds forklift trucks.
With more than 280 Japanese companies employing about 58,000 workers statewide, Columbus is home to about 10 percent of them.
“Given the significant importance these employers have within our local and regional economy, we are honored to welcome Consul-General Ito to hear his insights into current US-Japan relations and potential economic opportunities for the future,” Hester said.
The idea of having Ito as keynote speaker for the annual meeting began during his October visit, when he met with representatives from several Japanese companies, Hester said.
Ito said in October that the Toyota forklift plant in Columbus was the busiest factory floor he had ever seen and was run well. He also said the support and hospitality of local government to local Japanese businesses was vital in their success, and encouraging to see firsthand.
“The purpose of my visit is to see how the Japanese companies are received by the local community, local political leaders,” Ito said at the time.
Hester said he thinks Ito will likely to touch on the impact of U.S. trade tariffs levied by President Donald Trump.
Any time business conditions change, whether through tariffs or regulations or other changes, employers have concerns, Hester said. A number of local employers have expressed a level of uncertainty about the tariffs, he said.
The luncheon event also will include results of the group’s 2018 Existing Business Survey and trend data from six years of the survey, and a report on its current and future activities, particularly existing business support, talent attraction and industry diversification efforts locally, Hester said.
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What: Great Columbus Economic Development Corp. annual meeting
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus
Notable: Luncheon is open to the public, but advance registration is required because space is limited
Cost: Individual tickets are $45, and reserved corporate tables of 8 are available for $360.
To register: Visit ColumbusIN.org, or call 812-378-7300 by Aug. 3.
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The consulate office that Naoki Ito leads serves 10 Midwestern states: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Primary roles of the consulate office are to:
- Serve Japanese nationals
- Represent the Japanese government
- Provide travel services and cultural information about Japan to non-Japanese residents within the 10-state jurisdiction
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