Holcomb Reaffirms Relationship with Zhejiang Province

Gov. Holcomb meets with leads of China-based Zhejiang HengFeng and its Indy-based subsidiary

Governor Eric Holcomb and a delegation of Indiana officials and business leaders have renewed a 32-year sister-state relationship with officials from China’s Zhejiang Province. The governor and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger were in China meeting with government and corporate leaders as part of a trade mission to Asia.

Indiana forged the relationship with Zhejiang Province in 1987 when the agreement was first signed by former Indiana Governor Robert Orr. This week, Holcomb affirmed Indiana’s commitment to Zhejiang.

"Our 32-year-old partnership has blossomed into a transpacific friendship that’s fueling business, academic, government and cultural exchanges on both sides of the Pacific. We look forward to what the future brings both our states in the decades ahead," said Gov. Holcomb.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp last year established a business development office in the city of Hangzhou. IEDC says that represents the need to further support and strengthen the many opportunities for collaboration.

The Indiana delegation met with leaders of China-based Zhejiang HengFeng Top Leisure and its Indianapolis-based subsidiary, Westfield Outdoors. 

The IEDC says HengFeng is one of the largest exporters of outdoor leisure goods, producing more than 10,000 products, such as tents, fishing tackle and hunting gear.

The company’s Indiana operation, Westfield Outdoors, was established in 2004 and supports U.S. sales for the products sold at retailers like Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, and Walmart.

Holcomb and Schellinger also met with the leadership of Zimmer Biomet’s China business. The Warsaw-based company employs 2,000 in China.