LEGISLATORS, ITO VISIT KYOCERA

Article by Jay Lockett, The Post & Mail

The Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago made a stop in Columbia City on his tour of Northeastern Indiana factories. Naoki Ito and his staff, including Economic Researcher Hisayo Matsumoto and Keiko Ishihara, consul of economic affairs, visited Kyocera SGS Precision Tools, Inc. Friday.

“The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, which is a group of 11 counties, is sponsoring a summit for the Consul General of the country of Japan,” Whitley County EDC President Jon Myers said. “He’s been going around to different regions in the Midwest because it’s his job to know what’s going on and help Japanese companies with their investment.”

In an effort to show cooperation, the Japan External Trade Organization; Consulate for Japan, Chicago Region; Whitley County Commissioner George Schrumpf and State Senator Andy Zay are visiting specific communities in Indiana to increase partnerships and dialogue between Japanese-owned companies and local decision makers.
“Of course the important part is cooperation between the Northeast Partnership and companies as well as the local government,” Ito said. “We are looking at this so we may develop relationships for the future.

Ito and his staff received a tour of the facility along with local legislators. Kyocera was made aware by the regional partnership that the Consul was in the vicinity, and Kyocera agreed to give a presentation before Ito traveled to Fort Wayne.

“It’s really just understanding the investing that (Japan) has here and making connections, not only for business here but also Japan’s companies that don’t have a location here that may want to invest more in the United States,” Myers said.

Kyocera SGS Precision Tools Inc. is a contract medical device manufacture, with the capability of assisting with prototypes, providing first articles, as well as complete production runs of bone drills, reamers, taps, files, rasps and other cutting devices.