Hoosier Delegation Travels to Germany
(photo courtesy Indiana Economic Development Corp.)
Governor Eric Holcomb’s economic development trip to Europe continued with a stop in Germany. The Indiana delegation met with government, business and academic leaders in an effort to share best practices on “strengthening education and workforce development to support growing, diversified economies.”
The governor spoke with representatives of several German-based companies with a presence in Indiana, including DOT Coatings GmbH, Siemens AG, and BMW Group German, as well as the German Farmers’ Association and the German Association of the Automotive Industry. Indiana is home to more than 120 German businesses that employ nearly 15,000 Hoosiers.
“From family histories to the German pioneer founders of a number of our cities and towns, Germany and Indiana share deep cultural ties," Gov. Holcomb said. "We share deep economic ties too, as Germany is Indiana’s top European customer. Our time here was spent strengthening this important transatlantic partnership, working with business and government leaders to take the Germany-Indiana relationship to the next level.”
The governor, First Lady Janet Holcomb and the rest of the delegation also took part in a transatlantic business luncheon with the American Chamber of Commerce Germany to learn more about the German dual vocational training system and workforce development initiatives in Germany.
The first lady also joined Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88), Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-16) and The International Center Chief Executive Officer Marin Baier in meeting with the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and visiting local small businesses to see German workforce programs at work.
The governor and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger also visited with various government officials, including German State Secretary Walter Lindner, U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, and Eckhard Franz, director-general of the Federal Ministry for Economy, to discuss Indiana’s connections with Germany and opportunities to strengthen them.
The delegation, which is part of Holcomb’s sixth international trade mission, will return to Indianapolis Thursday aboard the first Paris-to-Indy nonstop flight.