Sunday, January 30, 2000
Enquirer reporter in Japan with Taft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Enquirer is going to Japan with Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. The Cincinnati Republican left this weekend with other state officials and business leaders to visit the cities of Tokyo, Toyohashi and Osaka. He will meet with foreign affairs and agricultural officials, as well as executives at Isuzu, Honda and Matsushita Electronics.
Accompanying Mr. Taft and the state entourage will be John J. Byczkowski, an Enquirer business reporter who covers the Tristate economy. He will report on Mr. Taft's efforts to enhance Ohio's trading relationship with Japan.
Representatives from 29 companies, universities and economic devel opment agencies are joining Mr. Taft, including officials from Cinergy Corp., Fifth Third Bank, Firstar Bank and the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
Japan is the fourth-largest export destination for Ohio products, with $1.49 billion in goods exported in 1998, according to the governor's office. In Ohio, 255 Japanese companies employ more than 67,000 Ohioans. Total Japanese investment in Ohio is about $11 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Ohio's ties to Japan include Honda of America Manufacturing, which employs more than 13,000 people at four plants in the state.
Look for Mr. Byczkowski's reports this week.
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