Holcomb to Lead Delegation to Europe
The trip marks Holcomb's seventh economic development trip as governor.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGovernor Eric Holcomb will next week lead an economic development trip to Europe. The delegation, which will include state officials and business leaders, will visit with key international partners in France, Belgium and Germany.
The governor plans to meet with executives of European businesses with operations in Indiana and Indiana-based businesses with facilities in each country. Additionally, the delegation plans to visit government officials including the U.S. Ambassadors to Belgium and Germany, as well as European Union and NATO leadership in Brussels.
Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger will have the opportunity to pitch Indiana as a destination for U.S. investment at CEO roundtables in France and a CEO event with the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium.
"There’s no substitute for meeting with our partners and prospective investors in person. Indiana has a growing global reputation, built on the momentum that continues to bring back more jobs for Hoosiers and opens new markets for Hoosier-made goods," Holcomb said in a news release. "We’ll use our time in Europe to strengthen relationships with some of our most important international economic partners, while continuing to promote Indiana as the best state in the U.S. to do business."
The delegation will include Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger, as well as Indianapolis-based Thompson Distribution Co. Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Thompson and Mark Neal, Principal of South Bend-based Bradley Co. The latter two are also members of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors.
The IEDC says Indiana is home to 450 European businesses that support more than 113,000 jobs statewide and account for more than 25 percent of the state’s total exports.
The delegation will depart for Europe on March 6 and return March 14. It will be the governor’s third trip to Europe and seventh international trip since taking office.