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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Gov. Rauner Promotes Illinois-Japan Trade Ties

Illinois CMS
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks Monday at the annual Midwest-U.S. Japan Association Conference in St. Louis.

The economic relationship between Illinois and Japan has never been stronger, Gov. Bruce Rauner told the annual Midwest-U.S. Japan Association Conference in St. Louis on Monday.

Rauner says the state’s relationship with Japan is very important to the state’s economy.

“We have 350 companies from Japan invested in Illinois, we have 1,200 locations for businesses throughout the state of Illinois, and the employ almost 50,000 hard-working Illinoisans.”

The governor said he gained his respect for Japan and its businesses through his father, an electrical engineer for Motorola in the 1960s and 1970s. Rauner said his father made dozens of trips to Japan during that time and negotiated numerous agreements between his companies and Japanese businesses.

“I look forward to doing that in my role as governor, working with you. Your success – business leaders’ success from Japan in the Midwest -- is critical to the success of the state of Illinois.”

Rauner says Japan is one of Illinois’s most important economic partners.

“Even though Illinois is the fifth-largest state in America, we are the fourth-largest exporter from Illinois to Japan,” he said. “This is a very important source of jobs and economic growth and expanded tax base for Illinois.”

Rauner said he hopes to expand mutual trade, tourism and cultural exchanges with Japan. He cited the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago and Northwestern University as among “world-class universities” ready to work with Japanese firms and investors for mutual benefit.

The first Midwest-U.S. Japan Association Conference took place in 1967 in Chicago. The Association works with the ten state governments in the Midwest to help market the region as an important business environment.

The conference concludes today.