Vol.
7 #6, July 2008
Midwest/Japan Conference to be in Milwaukee
 The
40th Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest I.S. – Japan Association
and the Japan – Midwest U.S. Association will take place in
Milwaukee September 7-9, 2008. The theme of this year’s
conference will be “Empowering Innovation for Tomorrow’s
Opportunities.” This will be Wisconsin’s chance to
showcase new technology and attract interest and investment from across
the Pacific.
Starting in 1967, business leaders from the Midwest and Japan have met
annually to discuss growth and progress of economic relations.
The first meeting took place when a delegation from the Japan Committee
for Economic Development was welcomed in Chicago by representatives of
the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry. What started in
1967 has grown to become the principal forum for bilateral trade and
investment discussion between the Midwest and Japan.
The Midwest U.S.-Japan Association consists of ten member states:
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The governments of the states
cooperate within the Association (a) to increase understanding
throughout the Midwest business community about Japanese markets and
resources; (b) to showcase the Midwest as a dynamic business
environment; (c) to develop knowledge in Japan of direct foreign
investment opportunities in the Midwest; and (d) to encourage export
development. The Japan-Midwest U.S. Association consists of
businesses that have direct economic ties to the Midwest or are
interested in developing them.
Confirmed speakers at the Milwaukee event include:
- Tim Donahue, Principal Investigator, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
- Toyoo Gyohten, Senior Advisor, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. / President, Institute for International Monetary Affairs
- Shigeru Hayakawa President, Toyota North America, Inc.
- Dr. Mark Little, Senior Vice President & Director, GE Global Research
- Toru Nagashima, President & CEO, Teijin Limited
- Kichisaburo Nomura, Executive Advisor, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
- Nobuo Ohashi Chairman, Mitsui & Co. Ltd.
- Tadashi Okamura, Chairman, Toshiba Corporation
- Stephen A. Roell, Chairman & CEO, Johnson Controls Inc.
- Michael L. Swenson, President & CEO, Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin an Xcel Energy Company
- Shigemi Tamura, Chairman, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
- Fumio Tateishi, Executive Vice President, Omron Corporation
- Keith Trafton, Chief Executive Officer, President, Super Steel Corporation
- Jim Ziemer, CEO, Harley-Davidson
The conference agenda and full speakers list is available on-line at http://www.midwest-japan.org/schedule.htm.
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