Key message: “Knox County is open for business and ready to be a trusted global partner.”

 

VINCENNES – “Excellent and productive face-to-face meetings for current and future engagements in the Knox County region” were a strategic highlight of the recently completed Indiana trade mission to Japan, said Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development (KCIED). Pfaff and Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum returned to Indiana in mid-September after joining the Mayors of Columbus, Greensburg, Seymour and Wabash and other Indiana economic development and trade professionals, with stops in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

A key message to Japanese leaders during the trip? “Knox County is open for business and ready to be a trusted global partner,” Pfaff emphasized.

The trip included taking part in the Midwest US – Japan Conference, which focuses on economic growth and innovation, and participating in two “Friends of Indiana”  receptions with leading Japanese business executives and the Indiana contingent. Indiana will serve as host for the 2026 Midwest US – Japan Conference, which Pfaff explained “will be an extremely important and strategic opportunity for Indiana economic growth and stability.”

Indiana tops the list of foreign direct investment in the Midwest from Japan. 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 current Japanese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Hoosier state.

In addition to several discussions with business and cultural leaders, during the Japanese trip Mayor Yochum and Pfaff  met directly with senior executives of Futaba,  and Excell Corporation  to discuss local Knox County operations and potential future growth . “We had good meetings with both Futaba and Excell ,” said Pfaff. “The face-to-face contact is important on a variety of levels, which heightened the positive impact of the trade mission for Knox County.”

Pfaff noted the trip offered several opportunities to “highlight Knox County strengths and directly learn about the priorities of Japanese companies during this time of trade policy changes.”

The full group took part in a Friends of Indiana  reception in Tokyo on Sept. 9 with Japanese business and national leadership. Supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Japan-America Society of Indiana (JASI) , the gathering included a special video greeting from Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. The Indiana Mayors attending  were also formally introduced and recognized.

A second Indiana reception with elected officials and Japanese business executives also took place in Nagoya on Sept. 11, also sponsored by IEDC. The reception focused on the strategic value of engaging with Indiana.

“This trip was busy and packed with several meetings, which represents our broader long-term strategy to continue to diversify the Knox County regional economy,” Pfaff said. By taking part, the KCIED CEO and Mayor Yochim were able 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 (FDI) in the Midwest.

Mayor Yochum and KCIED CEO Pfaff previously took part in a Japanese trade mission in 2023.

Organizations supporting the Indiana trade mission and receptions include Hoosier Energy,  Indy Partnership, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Purdue Research Foundation, South Central Economic Development Group, Duke Energy, Japan-America Society of Indiana, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

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About Knox County Indiana Economic Development (KCIED) 

Established in 1981, Knox County Indiana Economic Development’s leadership and vision have created an atmosphere of cooperation. We are dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life for the citizens of Knox County by developing the overall economy of the county. KCIED has a supportive board that is actively involved in the recruitment, expansion, and retention of businesses. In addition to a strong partnership with the City of Vincennes and Knox County government, Knox County Indiana Economic Development has more than 100 private members that help fund the economic development efforts. For more information, please visit https://knoxcountyindiana.com/