Whitmer, other leaders travel to Japan to seek economic investment in Michigan
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As part of a continued effort to attract business investment in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has traveled to Japan for a seven-day investment mission, her office announced Wednesday. It's the governor's third trade mission trip made this year, with two separate ones to Europe already taking place in 2023.
Whitmer is meeting with business and Japanese government leaders during the trip, as well as making stops at the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) headquarters and the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association meeting in Tokyo, according to a news release issued by the governor's office. Whitmer will also "highlight the state of Michigan’s significant partnership with Shiga Prefecture," a Japanese sister state of Michigan.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer Jr. is among the state economic officials making the trip with the governor, the release said.
“Michigan has a powerful story to tell as we compete to bring jobs and investment home,” Whitmer said in the release. “As a hub of high-tech innovation, we are embarking on an economic mission alongside business leaders to bring Michigan’s story to East Asia in the coming days. Our state is full of potential, from our hardworking people and our vibrant cities and towns to our entrepreneurial spirit and culture of innovation. Let’s unleash that potential so we can keep growing our economy and help anyone ‘make it’ right here in Michigan.' ”
The governor's office said Whitmer will discuss potential investment in industries such as mobility and advanced manufacturing. Whitmer and other state leaders have backed public incentive deals to attract business investment in Michigan recently, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Lawmakers have approved hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for electric vehicle battery plants as part of economic development deals backed by Whitmer. Officials hope the investments spur job creation and further economic growth in Michigan, although questions remain on how exactly the size of incentives are determined.
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Whitmer's office highlighted one investment secured during a trade mission made earlier this year — in May, Norway-based Nel Hydrogen announced plans to open the largest plant in the U.S. to manufacture alkaline electrolyzer equipment for the production of renewable hydrogen in Michigan. The state said the project could eventually generate a total capital investment of $400 million and could receive business development grants of up to $10 million.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer heads to Japan to seek economic investments in Michigan
