September 17, 2008
Granholm's first day in Japan identifies potential investment in Michigan
LANSING - On the first day of her investment mission to Japan, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm met with nine companies with the potential to expand their current operations in Michigan and two more looking at investing in Michigan for the first time. The companies Granholm met with today were especially interested in expanding operations into the growing alternative energy sector.
"In every meeting, our message is clear: our world-class workforce combined with a host of new economic development tools make Michigan the perfect place for global companies to invest and do business," Granholm said. "We are aggressively targeting companies in the automotive, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and alternative energy industries to bring new jobs to Michigan and diversify our state's economy."
Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James C. Epolito are in Japan this week to encourage Japanese businesses seeking to expand their presence in the United States to do so in Michigan.
"We are stepping up our efforts across the globe to show CEOs and business leaders that Michigan is a perfect fit for any company - large or small, traditional or high-tech," Epolito said. "Our efforts to diversify and grow our economy are being noticed, and I'm confident that this mission will not only bring new investment and jobs to Michigan, it will lay the groundwork for future growth."
Granholm was encouraged to hear from so many Japanese companies considering additional investments in Michigan despite the challenges in the U.S. auto industry and an unstable global economy. Granholm discussed a potential fuel cell lab in Farmington Hills with Nissan, the recent expansion of the newly-acquired Sekisui Chemical facility in Holland, the increased hiring at Hitachi Automotive System's new Farmington Hills research and development facility, and Konica-Minolta's prospects for expanding their Grand Rapids facility.
In addition, Granholm talked with executives from Nissan, Mazda, Eurus Energy, and Tokyo Electric about potential alternative energy projects, including lithium ion batteries, electric vehicle platforms, and wind turbine manufacturing and wind farms.
In total, meetings were held with executives from 11 different companies today, including Nissan, Hitachi, Konica-Minolta, Meiden, Honda, Keihin, Sekisui Chemical, Tokyo Electric, Eurus Energy, Mazda and Hino Motors.
The investment mission to Japan is the governor's sixth overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Germany, Austria, Japan and Sweden have resulted in 37 companies announcing more than $826 million in new investment and more than 9,000 jobs created and retained.
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