Press release from theNortheast Indiana Regional Partnership:
Northeast Indiana representatives return from international trade missions with potential for investment
John Sampson and Dale Buuck bring back strong interest from Europe and Asia
(November 30, 2010) – John Sampson, president of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEIRP), and Dale Buuck, director of business development for NEIRP, returned from this month’s successful Asia and Europe trade missions with strong potential for future visits from international interests. Sampson joined Gov. Mitch Daniels in China and Japan while Buuck represented Northeast Indiana with an Indiana delegation to the United Kingdom and Germany.
“Northeast Indiana was prominently marketed in the UK and in Germany,” Buuck said. “We targeted defense and advanced manufacturing companies in the UK and medical device companies in Germany.”
One-on-one meetings were used to introduce and inform companies about the strong technical skills throughout the region. Northeast Indiana’s defense industry cluster and steel and fabrication industry are specific high points for the region with these firms. The interest is strong and Buuck reported that they can see tangible opportunities in our region.
The Partnership is now working with Brook Steed, director of Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Northeast office, to arrange a visit from several of these companies to the region.
Buuck also made presentations with Kristin Jones, president and CEO of Indiana Health Industry Forum, about Northeast Indiana’s life sciences and medical device industry to a number of companies in Munich and Dusseldorf.
Sampson visited China and Japan with a delegation of over 40 representatives from Indiana companies. Sampson focused on private meetings with six different Asian companies that have interests in US operations. These included firms in biomedical, transportation and logistics, advanced manufacturing and alternative energy.
“From these meetings, I was able to introduce these companies to Indiana and our region.” Sampson said. “It is apparent that Chinese firms have made significant progress since our last Asia trade mission 14 months ago. They are now actively searching for strategic partners.”
Sampson said that the NEIRP will work to encourage company representatives to visit the region and become better acquainted with the location advantage of Northeast Indiana, the strength of the industry clusters and the abilities of the high-quality workforce.
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: Created in 2006, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to market the 10-county region and team with local economic development organizations (LEDOs) to bring new jobs and commercial investment to the area. NEIRP’s global marketing efforts are on behalf of LEDOs in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. www.chooseneindiana.com
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