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Governor Holcomb Announces Schedule for Trade Mission to Europe

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb will depart for Europe today on his first international jobs mission as Governor, visiting Hungary and France to attract jobs and investment to Indiana. The Governor’s schedule for the trip, along with members of the Indiana delegation, are listed below.

“I’m excited to lead this delegation to Europe and share the economic successes of Indiana with an audience of international leaders,” Governor Holcomb said. “Our administration will continue to take Indiana to the world and bring the world to Indiana..”

Tuesday, June 13
Governor Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger will meet with the Hungarian Minister of National Economy, Mihály Varga, to discuss Hungary’s economic policy. The Governor will also attend a business forum hosted by the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency, where representatives of Indiana and Hungary will discuss the benefits of doing business in each state and outline opportunities to increase investment and exports between Indiana and Hungary. Representatives of Hungarian companies interested in developing business in the U.S. will also attend the forum.

In the evening, Governor Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb will attend a networking event hosted by Dr. László Szabó, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, with executives of Indiana companies with operations in Hungary, including Allison Transmission, Eli Lilly and Remy International.

Wednesday, June 14
In the morning, Governor Holcomb and Secretary Schellinger will meet with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó to discuss economic cooperation between Indiana and Hungary and to outline a vision for future collaboration. The Governor and the Minister will sign a formal memorandum of understanding between the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, establishing a framework to expand and diversify partnerships to advance innovation, global investment and trade.

Following, the Governor will travel to the building of the Hungarian Parliament to meet with members of the National Assembly of Hungary, including Speaker László Kövér, to discuss similarities between the two states and each country’s vision for growing its economy on a global stage.

In the evening, the Governor and the First Lady will meet with Professor László Lovász, president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1825, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is a public body dedicated to cultivating research and science as well as ensuring the development of Hungarian language and cultural studies. Indiana is home to the only comprehensive Hungarian studies program in North America, offered through Indiana University’s School of Global and International Studies. Indiana University has provided Hungarian language instruction since World War II and partnered with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to establish a Chair in Hungarian Studies in 1979.

Thursday, June 15
On Thursday, the Indiana delegation will travel from Budapest to Paris. After arriving, they will meet with executives of Blue Solutions, a subsidiary of France-based Bolloré Group and the parent company of BlueIndy, which launched its electric car-sharing service in Indianapolis in 2015. The company will also showcase its latest innovations in electricity storage, renewable energy and clean transportation.

Saturday, June 17
The Indiana delegation will travel to Le Mans, France, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race, which is expected to draw more than 250,000 race fans. They will meet with Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouset, which organizes and hosts the race, as well as with executives of automotive and motorsports firms, including Germany-based Continental Tire, Italy-based Dallara, Chip Ganassi Racing and Japan-based Toyota.

Sunday, June 18
In Paris, Governor Holcomb will meet with executives of France-based Michelin, which employs more than 1,200 Hoosiers at its BF Goodrich Tire manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne.

In the evening, the Governor and First Lady will host a networking reception for the Indiana delegation to kick off the 2017 International Paris Air Show. They will also meet with executives and representatives of the Aerospace Industries Association, which represents more than 325 major aerospace and defense companies and their suppliers.

Monday, June 19
On Monday, the state of Indiana will debut its exhibit at the International Paris Air Show, showcasing the state’s aviation, aerospace and defense industry and the advantages of doing business in Indiana. Governor Holcomb and the Indiana delegation will meet with global executives of leading companies, including Rolls-Royce, which has been operating in Indiana for more than 100 years.

The Governor will also meet with executives of GE Aviation, which recently located a new $100 million jet engine facility in Lafayette to assemble the new LEAP engine from CFM International – a 50/50 joint company of GE and France-based Safran. The Governor will also meet with leadership of Safran, which is also the parent company of MorphoTrust USA in Fort Wayne.

At the Air Show, the Governor and the First Lady will host a Friends of Indiana networking event to meet with and thank companies that do business in Indiana, such as Dynamic Metals, Honeywell and Thyssenkrupp, which have Indiana operations in Elkhart, South Bend and Terre Haute, respectively.

In the evening, Governor Holcomb will meet with executives of France-based Faurecia, an automotive manufacturing supplier with operations in Indiana. Columbus is home to the North American Headquarters of Faurecia Clean Mobility (FCM) and Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies. FCM recently announced plans to expand in Indiana, locating a new facility in Fort Wayne.

Tuesday, June 20
Governor Holcomb will meet with prospect companies that are considering locating or expanding in Indiana as well as with aviation and defense firms with Indiana connections, including AAR, which occupies more than one million square feet at the Indianapolis International Airport, and Boeing, which operates a hangar at the Gary/Chicago International Airport.

The Governor will also meet with Arconic, which has aerospace-focused manufacturing facilities in both La Porte and Lafayette, as well as Raytheon, which employs more than 1,000 associates at its Indianapolis site dedicated to defense and cybersecurity.

In the evening, Governor Holcomb will participate in a round table discussion on the future of flight with industry stakeholders. Hosted by The Economist, the event will explore the effects of innovation and technology on travel, aircrafts and the aviation industry.

Delegation
Members of the Indiana delegation traveling to Hungary are: Governor Holcomb, First Lady Holcomb, Secretary of Commerce Schellinger, Jan Wiedemann, director of the IEDC’s Europe office, three staff members, and two members of the Governor’s security detail.

Members of the Indiana delegation traveling to France, in addition to the Governor and the First Lady, are:

  • IEDC: Rollie Helmling, senior vice president of business development; Matt Wade, vice president of marketing; and Jan Wiedemann, director of the IEDC’s Europe office
  • Aerodyn: Professor M. Razi Nalim
  • Applied Composites Engineering: Leigh Sargent and Matt Steward
  • Conexus: Ryan Metzing
  • Greater Columbus Indiana Economic Development: Mayor Jim Leinhoop, Jason Hester and Kathy Ertel (Jennings County)
  • Greater Lafayette Commerce: Scott Walker
  • Hoosier Racing Tire: John DeSalle and Craig Benninghoff
  • Indiana General Assembly: Sen. Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) and Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City)
  • Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory: Bob Fagan
  • Purdue Research Foundation: Dan Hasler and Paul Moses
  • Riverside Manufacturing: Fred Merritt

Two staff members and three members of the Governor’s security detail will also travel to France.

SOURCE: News release from the Office of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb