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Trade Mission Seeks Business for Ohio Companies in Japan, Taiwan"
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Last year, Ohio companies exported $1.1 billion in goods to Japan, the Buckeye State's fourth largest export market, according to Gov. Bob Taft. Now, he's leading an Ohio Business and Investment Mission to Japan and Taiwan to promote even more exports. The governor will be joined by 73 representatives from 60 Ohio companies and organizations for the trip, scheduled for Sept. 24 through Oct. 3.This is the largest number of mission participants in Ohio's history, Taft said."I am pleased that this year's mission has generated such a high level of interest among Ohio businesses, organizations and universities looking to establish or strengthen relationships with Japan and Taiwan," Taft noted. "Our past missions have laid the foundation for millions of dollars in new business and foreign investments, as well as many new jobs, in the State of Ohio. That this is our largest delegation speaks to the success of our previous missions and signifies the importance of our relationships with Japan and Taiwan."Ohio business representatives will participate in business meetings and networking events designed to maximize their opportunities for success in Japan and Taiwan. In Japan, the group will attend the 2004 Annual Conference of the Midwest U.S. Japan Association and the BioJapan 2004 tradeshow, and Taft also will present a keynote speech at a luncheon for the American Chamber of Commerce in that country.In Taiwan, which is one of Ohio's top 20 export markets and a growing source of advanced technology collaborations, Taft and mission participants will meet with key business officials and host a reception honoring alumni of Ohio colleges and universities living in Taiwan.Goals for the trade mission include identifying companies interested in investing in Ohio, promoting Ohio exports, encouraging research and development collaborations between universities and organizations and building educational, social and cultural exchanges, Taft said.Japan is Ohio's largest single-country source of foreign direct investment, with more than 300 facilities employing nearly 70,000 Ohioans. Among Ohio's exports to Japan and Taiwan are industrial machinery, aerospace equipment, plastics and motor vehicles, Taft said.The Ohio Business and Investment Mission to Japan and Taiwan will be Taft's fifth international business mission, and the second time he will lead a delegation to Japan. His previous missions to Mexico, Europe, South America and Japan have resulted in more than $473 million in projected new business and investment and 1,395 new jobs, he said."