By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
Gov. Jim Doyle is on the far side of the Pacific this week, hoping to mine a rebounding
Japanese economy for financing to help fund bio-science firms in Wisconsin.
The trick, Doyle said during a conference call from Tokyo today, is “making the right matches”
between start-up Badger State companies and Japanese investors.
“The Japanese economy is coming back and they are looking for investments around the world,”
said Doyle, who is leading a trade mission to Japan.
He left on Friday with 29 Wisconsin business leaders – including Joe Hogan, head of GE
Healthcare Technologies and John Barth, CEO of Johnson Controls – plus a clutch of economic
development and academic officials. In March, Doyle he led about 80 people on a 12-trip to
China.
“My goal on this trip is to connect the right people, talk up Wisconsin and tell people about
the research that is coming out of the University of Wisconsin and other research institutions
in our state,” he said.
“I’m here because I want people Japanese business leaders to get to know me, members of my team
and then hook them up with people who want to make investments,” he said. “I see them as a
source for funding for our start-up bio-science companies.”
He said the Japanese already are backing 25 Wisconsin companies. As many as
five bioscience firms are in talks with investors as part of the trip, but Doyle declined to
list their names.
During his latest jaunt to Asia, Doyle said he has met with leaders of Toshiba, Honda and All
Nippon Airways.
On Monday, he spoke to 200 people at the Japan-Midwest U.S. Association.
“I told them about the good things happening in Wisconsin, including increased employment and
changes we are making to encourage people to do business in our state and our developing biotech
industry.”
Doyle hosted a reception for a 1,500-member University of Wisconsin alumni group yesterday.
During his visit, he will go to the Japan External Trade Organization BIOLink Forum and
the Chiba Prefecture, which is Wisconsin’s Sister State. He also will visit the Kazusa Research
Park, which conducts DNA research.
Yuzaburo Mogi, chairman and CEO of Kikkoman Corp. and the co-chair of the Japan-Midwest U.S.
Association, said Doyle’s trip is key to expanding Wisconsin-Japan trade and investment.
“For both business and cultural exchange, the presence of the governor is very important,” said
Mogi, whose company has a plant in Walworth County. “And I can tell you Japanese business people
have been impressed with Gov. Doyle.”
Doyle said Japan is Wisconsin’s second largest foreign trading partner after Canada.
“We have long-term relationships and good friends here,” he said. “This is like doing business
with our best friends and neighbors. We want to build on that.”
By contrast, he said the trip to China was a foray into relatively uncharted territory.
“With China, you are dealing with a wide-open, emerging economy,” he said. “We went there
looking for new markets in which people would buy Wisconsin products.”
Doyle also said he hopes his trip to Japan will help lure a few golfers to Wisconsin.
“They love golf here and they are traveling again, with flights on All-Nippon Airways up
36 percent over last year,” he said.
“They saw the PGA tournament at Whistling Straits and liked it. We will be promoting Wisconsin
more strongly as a destination for great golfing at championship courses at affordable prices.”
According to officials at the state Commerce Department, taxpayers are not funding Doyle’s trip. Instead, it is being financed by Harley-Davidson, Johnson Controls, PricewaterhouseCoopers and
the Quarles & Brady law firm. Business leaders also paid for Doyle’s China trip.
