By Staff
LANSING - Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm begins an investment mission to Japan today, seeking to forge stronger alliances with the leadership of that country's automotive and new technology industries and attract new jobs and business development to Michigan. Granholm's week-long schedule includes individual meetings with high-level executives from 18 Japanese companies, as well as a reception at which another 10 companies will be represented.
She will address an automotive industry seminar at the World Expo in Nagoya and host a biotechnology seminar in Osaka with Michigan university presidents to promote Michigan as a North American center for life sciences research, development, and commercialization. The governor's delegation will make contact with more than 150 companies this week.
Granholm will spend the week pitching Michigan as the premier state for advanced automotive, life science and high-tech manufacturing investment.
Japan is Michigan's largest Asian export market and the third-largest market in the world.
Michigan exported a billion dollars in goods to Japan last year.