Itinerary: three days, three cities, 22 companies 

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will embark on her sixth overseas jobs and investment mission next week when she departs for her third visit to Japan on September 15.  During the three-day trip, the governor will travel to three cities to meet with 22 companies that have locations or are considering investments in Michigan or that are ripe for international investment.  Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) President and CEO James C. Epolito and members of the MEDC team will accompany Granholm on the mission.

"With our competitive business climate, world-class workforce and a host of new business tools and resources, there is no better place in North America to grow a business than right here in Michigan," Granholm said.  "We have implemented the most aggressive plan of any state in the country to diversify and grow our economy, and I am going anywhere and doing anything to bring new jobs to Michigan."

While in Japan, Granholm will meet with companies in a variety of business sectors: alternative energy, advanced battery storage, chemicals, electronics, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing.  Meetings are also scheduled with senior executives from automotive companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda and Aisin, and with alternative energy companies like Eurus Energy, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation and Terumo Medical Corporation. 

"We are ramping up our efforts throughout the world to sell Michigan as the best place in North America for companies to invest and do business," Epolito said. "These face-to-face meetings help to build strong connections to CEOs and decision-makers and provide the perfect setting to show them all that Michigan has to offer."

The trip will be the governor's sixth overseas investment mission since 2004.  Her previous missions to Germany, Austria, Japan, and Sweden have resulted in 37 companies announcing over $826 million in new investment and more than 9,000 jobs created and retained.   

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