Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle to Lead Business Delegation to Japan

Contacts:
Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

Trip From September 24-October 1, 2004 Will Seek to Increase Wisconsin
Exports to Japan and Attract Japanese Investment to the State

Governor Jim Doyle will depart this Friday, September 24,
2004 to lead a Wisconsin business delegation to Japan to build on
Wisconsin’s business connections with Japan. The Governor is leading 29
Wisconsin business, economic development, and academic officials who are
seeking to increase Wisconsin exports to Japan and attract Japanese
investment to the state.

“Japan is the second largest destination for Wisconsin
exports and a major source of investment capital,” Governor Doyle said.
“This trip will help us raise Wisconsin’s profile in Japan and help us
attract new businesses and new investment in our economy. It will also help
us build on the strong social and cultural ties between Wisconsin and
Japan.”

Governor Doyle will address the annual joint meetings of the
U.S. Midwest-Japan and Japan-Midwest U.S. Associations. Joe Hogan,
President of GE Healthcare, and John Barth, Chairman and CEO of Johnson
Controls, will also address the joint meeting. The Governor will also speak
at the Japan External Trade Organization’s BIOLink Forum.

“More than 30 years ago, the Kikkoman Corporation recognized
that Wisconsin is a great place to do business, and today their
manufacturing facility in Walworth is a major employer,” Governor Doyle
said. “As more Japanese companies are looking for a place to invest, we
want them to choose Wisconsin. We may not have the name recognition as
California, but we have a great deal to offer and we plan to make our case
aggressively to Japanese investors.”

“We have a great sales pitch to make in Japan,” the Governor
said. “With our highly educated workforce, excellent quality of life, and
our leadership in technology, we have a lot to offer to Japanese medical
equipment, biotech, and nanotech businesses that want to establish a U.S.
presence.”

The Governor will also meet with a number of Japanese
business officials, including Mr. Taizo Nishimuro, Chairman of Toshiba
Corp.; Mr. Yoshihide Munekuni, Executive Advisor to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.;
and Mr. Kichisaburo Nomura, Chairman of All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd.
Government officials with whom the Governor will meet include Mr. Takeo
Hirnamu, Member of the Japanese House of Representatives; Mr. Shoichi
Nakagawa, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki,
Minister of Finance; and Mr. Osamu Watanabe, Chairman and CEO of Japan
External Trade Organization.

The delegation will also travel to the Kazusa Research Park
in Chiba Prefecture, Wisconsin’s sister-state in Japan, and the NTT Advanced
Technology Research Center. Kazusa Research Park has been active in DNA
research. Governor Doyle and Governor Akiko Domoto of Chiba will also host
an Economic Development Policy Dialog in Chiba. A Wisconsin cultural
delegation will be visiting Chiba at the same time.

In 2003, Wisconsin firms shipped over $800 million worth of
products to Japan, and the country was the #2 destination for Wisconsin
exports. Wisconsin became the site of the first wholly Japanese-owned
manufacturing facility in the United States when the Kikkoman Corporation
established a plant in Walworth, Wisconsin in 1972. Since then, other
Japanese investors have included Sony, Sumitomo Electric, Fuji Heavy
Industries, and Yamaha Motor Company.