While most local residents were just getting up, if they slept in, and sipping their first cup of coffee, a group of 23 people from Southeastern Indiana were boarding a plane to Japan.

The trip, dubbed a foreign-trade mission, includes three representatives from Greensburg. They are; Vicki Kellerman, Economic Development Corporation director, City Councilman Glenn Tebbe and Shinichi Furuya of Mi-Tech Steel.

Of course, the delegation plans on visiting with Honda executives while abroad but there are other companies on the agenda as well.

“We are going to visit with Mitsui Equipment, the parent company of GECOM; Mitsui Steel, part owner of Mi-Tech Steel and with Hitachi Powdered Metals, the parent firm for STI,” Kellerman said. “It will be an opportunity for us to tell them how appreciative we are for their investments and commitment to Decatur County over the years. We also want them to know if there is anything we can do to help them continue to prosper, we will.”

The second part of the mission is to talk to companies who don’t yet have a presence in Southeastern Indiana but who the delegates would like to see operating here.

“We are doing an investment seminar in Tokyo on Monday and another one in Nagoya on Friday,” Kellerman said. “All of their delegates will talk about their respective areas and I will concentrate on Rush and Decatur counties.”

Kellerman doesn’t expect one visit to lure a handful of companies so far from home, but she knows it’s a vital first step.

“Some people on this trip have visited Japan 10 or 20 times. This is the first for Decatur County,” she said. “It’s all about relationship building. It’s a way to lay a foundation, build trust and hopefully make a long-term positive impression. We’re looking for additional investments in our communities. That’s our main focus.”

In addition, they also plan to spread a little goodwill. The local contingent has commissioned a special commemorative plate to be crated by Sue Carey. The Lake Santee artist has made four which will be presented as gifts to the top executives at Honda, the Mitsuis and Hitachi.

“I’m so grateful for all the help we’ve received in preparing for this trip,” Kellerman said. “Mi-Tech made Shinichi available to us and his knowledge of the culture has been fantastic and his help while we’re there will be invaluable. We also have volunteers putting together marketing materials and translating them into Japanese. I’m so impressed with the level of excitement local industry has shown when they learned we were making this trip.”

The group will be there for a week before boarding the 16-hour flight home next weekend.

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