MADISON – The Government of Japan has committed to investing $550 billion in the United States and there is an organized effort underway to attract some of that money to Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin-Japan Strategic Partnership (WJSIP) was formed late last year and is chaired by former Gov. Tommy Thompson. The group’s goal is to maximize Wisconsin’s chances of attracting Japanese investment in the targeted categories of advanced manufacturing, critical minerals and metals extraction, energy, pharmaceuticals/medical products, and shipbuilding. Among other things, WJSIP will accomplish this by educating potential investees about the process involved.
“This is a very unique and golden opportunity for our country, and we don’t want Wisconsin to be left out,” said former Gov. Tommy Thompson. “Kikkoman opened the door more than 50 years ago with its soy sauce plant in Walworth County. They liked Wisconsin so much that they are now investing north of $800 million in a new facility in Jefferson County, along with major additions to the original plant.”
Thompson also pointed to other significant Japanese investments in Wisconsin, including Asahi Brewing in Waunakee, FUJIFILM in Madison, and Yaskawa in Franklin, noting that these long-term commitments reflect confidence in the state’s workforce, infrastructure, and overall business environment.
The WJSIP includes a diverse list of stakeholders, including Foley & Lardner, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Japan America Society of Wisconsin, Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, Michael Best & Friedrich, Michael Best Strategies, Milwaukee 7, Thrive, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), and Wisconsin Technology Council.
“WJSIP will be an information conduit for prospective investees,” said Kurt R. Bauer, President & CEO of WMC. Bauer said WJSIP will host an informational webinar on January 23 at 10am. He emphasized that both the Trump Administration and the Japanese are very focused on targeted investment areas and are also looking for very big projects. “We are talking multi-billion-dollar projects,” Bauer said.
The Government of Japan committed that it and other Japanese funding sources would collectively invest more than half-a-trillion-dollars in the U.S. as part of the trade agreement reached with the Trump administration last summer.
