September 11, 2009
September 11, 2009
Governor will address conference, meet with company and government leaders
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will embark on her ninth overseas investment mission on September 12 when she makes her fourth visit to Japan. During the 72-hour mission, the governor will meet with key executives considering locating alternative energy projects in Michigan and speak on September 14 at the 2009 Japan-Midwest U.S. Association Conference in Tokyo.
The Japan-Midwest U.S. Association was formed in 1968 to foster better business relations between 10 Midwestern states and 75 top Japanese businesses. Approximately 400 people are expected to attend this year's conference, including U.S. and Japanese business executives, government leaders and trade officials.
"I am taking the message to Japan that Michigan is fast becoming the North American center for the alternative energy industry, and now is the time to get on board," Granholm said. "Over the past three months, we've made major alternative energy and advanced battery announcements in Michigan that have reverberated around the globe, and international CEOs are taking notice."
Michigan has seen several major alternative energy announcements over the past three months. They include:
General Electric Company's new advanced technology and training center in southeast Michigan, announced in June;
Twelve Michigan projects awarded more than $1.35 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to support advanced battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and development, announced in August;
Transformation of the former Ford Wixom Assembly plant into a renewable energy park, announced yesterday.
Next year's Japan-Midwest U.S. Association Conference will be held in Detroit. During her September 14 remarks, the governor will formally invite association members to Michigan.
This trip to Japan will be the governor's eighth overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan and Sweden resulted in 45 companies announcing over $955 million in new investment in Michigan and more than 10,800 jobs created and retained.
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