Speaker Welch, Illinois Delegation Conclude Trade Mission in Japan
CHICAGO – Traveling alongside Gov. JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, and other state leaders, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch returned to Illinois this week after a successful trade mission in Japan.
“It was a pleasure to travel to Japan, one of our largest trading partners, to strengthen our economic ties and encourage continued growth in manufacturing, clean energy, and quantum computing,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “Illinois has positioned itself as a global leader with ambitious goals. We have a robust and productive workforce, and we want to welcome even more business and innovation. This successful trade mission allowed us to further cultivate our economic relationships with Japan while showcasing all Illinois has to offer.”
While in Tokyo, Speaker Welch met with Japanese executives from the food manufacturing sector, participated in clean energy and quantum roundtable discussions, and worked alongside the rest of the delegation to emphasize Illinois’ position as a leader in manufacturing and innovation. During the trip, Sysmex America, Inc. announced that the company will expand its operations in northeastern Illinois, bringing 110 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 550 existing jobs in the state.
“Sysmex is an essential part of the fabric of the northeastern Illinois economy, and this expansion further exemplifies that innovative companies want to work out of innovative states,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It is opportunities like this that make these trade missions so rewarding, and I look forward to seeing what Sysmex does in the future in partnership with Illinois.”
A key theme of the trade mission was promoting Illinois as a hub for global investment. The entire delegation touted Illinois’ historic Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, investments in clean energy jobs, our position as a global leader in quantum computing, and the state’s development programs focused on building the next generation of clean energy workers. Leaders met with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and concluded the successful trade mission with a final roundtable promoting Illinois’ geographical midpoint in the U.S. and the thriving business atmosphere.
