Radius Indiana Concludes First Ever Site Selector Trip to Japan

BEDFORD, Ind. (Nov. 8, 2018) — Radius Indiana traveled to Japan last week to meet with Japanese governmental and business professionals to discuss foreign investment in the Radius region. This was Radius’s first ever international site selector trip, as the organization continues its outreach program efforts to broaden and diversify its economic development program.

Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle, along with a team of 10 people from the Radius region and surrounding communities, were abroad for nine days, meeting with more than a dozen companies to spread education and awareness of the region.

The group traveled to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before returning to Indiana. Radius met with a variety of companies, ranging from automobile manufacturers to trading and policy organizations. The Radius region is already home to over 300 manufacturers, with space and opportunity to grow that number.

The Indiana presenters shared information about the Radius region, detailing the top core industries of the region, workforce development and natural resources available in the area. Education has been a top priority for Radius over the course of the past two years, and this trip served as an opportunity to share the outreach program abroad.

“We found that our audiences were extremely interested in hearing about the evolving and increasing workforce training programs available in our state and region,” said Jeff Quyle, CEO and president of Radius Indiana. “In addition to Vincennes University, Ivy Tech, ROI and state workforce training programs, we discussed I-69, Crane and other relevant characteristics that make us open for new business growth.”

Radius had a meeting with JETRO Osaka to present the advantages and incentive programs available for companies conducting business in Indiana. This seminar was a unique opportunity, allowing the Indiana presenters to discuss business incentives on both the state and local level with dozens of companies who attended, as well as providing examples of exactly how these programs could benefit direct foreign investment in Indiana.

The Japan-America Society of Indiana (JASI) and Larry Ingraham, President of Ingraham & Associates, served as important resources of information and provided translations for printed material prior to the trip. The group learned about the Japanese business culture in the months leading up to the trip, and those resources helped the attendees maximize the value of their trip.

“This trip was educational for both sides,” said Salem City Councilman Justin Green. “We listened to the businesses that we met, and we understand them better. At the same time, we mentioned the Radius region to dozens of business leaders who had never heard of us before. I think the companies who will be ready to come to the U.S. will remember our community.”

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ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.