Press Release
TOKYO, Japan — R.J. Baker, executive director of the Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, often finds himself touting the advantages of Northeast Nebraska to company officials from other places.It’s just not often that he does it in Japan.Baker recently participated in a Nebraska Trade Mission that was led by Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Departmentof Economic Development.
The mission was made up of two groups, one focusing on agriculture-related issues and the other on business attraction. Baker was part of the latter group.
The itinerary included the grand opening of the Nebraska trade office in Tokyo, tours of two Kawasaki plants, presentations at Shizouka University, a tour of the YSK Industries Research Center, a briefing at the U.S. Embassy, a tour of Tokyo and a reception for Japanese executives.
Baker also had meetings with three Japanese companies that have ownership in companies operating in the the council’s four-county service area in Northeast Nebraska.Baker met with senior executivesof Q.P. Corporation (Henningsen Foods), Mitsubisi (Agrex) and Marubeni (Helena Chemical). Each of the companies has multiple plants in Nebraska and they were given information packets about the communities in Northeast Nebraska.
In addition to participating in the trade mission, the Elkhorn Valley council financially supports the Nebraska Trade Office in Tokyo and will soon make available Japanese language marketing material about the four-county area.
- Story Courtesy of the Norfolk Daily News
