Days 2 and 3 of Lt. Governor Ellspermann’s agriculture trade mission have been spent in the Sichuan Province located in southwestern China. This inland province has some of China’s most productive agricultural land and very diverse agriculture, as well as major industrial development in its capital city of Chengdu, a city with a population of over 15 million people.

On the first day they met with Consul General Raymond Greene and staff from the American Consulate General’s office of Chengdu, which was established in 1985 and one of the first foreign consul offices in southwestern China. This Indiana delegation is the first agricultural governmental trade mission to visit this region of China.

In the afternoon, the delegation met with three furniture companies located throughout the Sichuan Province who connected with Keith Cole, representing Cole Hardwood of Logansport, Indiana and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen Association. Both parties walked away from the meeting with next steps in place to establish an international business relationship.

They were hosted for an evening dinner by officials from Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs where Lt. Governor Ellspermann and the delegation members were able to share opportunities in Indiana’s production, animal health, agribusiness and technology sectors as well as learn about the local agricultural offerings. Considered the pork capital of China, Sichuan Province’s agricultural commodities also includes lemons, pomegranates, tea and numerous other products.

On the second day, the Lt. Governor and Ted McKinney, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) led the team through an agricultural exchange meeting with the Director General and a multitude of department heads of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture. During the meeting, Beth Bechdol of Ice Miller, LLC, the Agribusiness Council of Indiana and AgriNovus Indiana was able to share highlights and innovations of the agribusiness sector in the Hoosier state. Clyde Shaffer of Shaffer Genetics, Inc., in Randolph County gave a short presentation on the work his company is conducting with Chinese businesses in the field of swine breeding to maximize growth rate, meat quality, durability and leanness.

Following the productive meeting, which has led to business card exchanges and follow up meetings scheduled, Lt. Governor Ellspermann and Director General Ren signed a memorandum of understanding, formalizing the newly established friendship between the State of Indiana and Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture to explore mutually beneficial exchange opportunities.

They then traveled to Ya’an, where the first panda in the world was discovered in 1862 and home to Sichuan Agricultural University where the group learned more about the 109 year old institution. The group once again received a warm welcome and presentations from various deans regarding their departments and current research projects, including one with Purdue University and Maple Leaf Farms. Jane Ade Stevens of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council shared highlights of current initiatives in the corn and soybean industries bringing together the industry and farmers alike to fund innovative uses for the crops.

The evening was capped off with the Indiana delegation attending a 4th of July celebration at the Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu hosted by the American Consulate. The group was honored to be amongst the nearly 500 attendees to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the US – China cooperation during World War II when over 60,000 American servicemen were stationed in the Southwestern region of China as a gateway into the fighting. This included the very famous “Flying Tigers,” American volunteer airmen who flew P-40 aircraft in defense of China.

Reflecting on the trip thus far, Lt. Governor Ellspermann commented, “We could not be more pleased with the foundations that have been laid and relationships that have been established and strengthened during the first part of our agriculture trade mission. In the first few days, we have had the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Sichuan Provinces where we have been warmly greeted by local leaders, businesses and Chinese citizens alike. I am confident our packed schedule will provide future opportunities for our state and our delegation.”

Governor Mike Pence completed his jobs and economic development mission to China today, visiting Indiana companies with China operations and hosting a reception in Shanghai for graduates of Indiana colleges and universities living in China.  

“As a state, Indiana remains committed to giving our students the tools they need to succeed in life through a world-class education,” said Pence. “By going out and making an impact at companies around the globe, the graduates I met tonight are showing the world the power of an Indiana education. To continue attracting global companies to locate and grow in the Hoosier State, business leaders need to look no further than the graduates of our world-class universities both abroad and the many more we have back home.”  

The reception attracted more than 100 alumni, including graduates from Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, Butler University and Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis. Indiana University, Purdue University and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology have education partnerships with Zhejiang Province, Indiana’s sister state, while some of Indiana’s other higher education institutions have established exchange programs across China. This complements the more than 10,000 Chinese students who attend universities in all corners of the state.

Earlier in the day, the Governor led meetings with leaders of the Lilly China Research & Development Center in Shanghai. Indiana-headquartered Eli Lilly employs more than 41,000 people around the world, including 11,000 Hoosiers at high-wage jobs across Indiana. The Governor also visited China International Marine Container, the parent company of Monon, Indiana-based Vanguard National Trailer Corporation. Vanguard has grown to be White County’s largest employer, employing more than 500 Hoosiers.

“Indiana and China are stronger together,” said Pence. “In the years since our friendship formed, Hoosier students have gained a broader worldview through cultural exchanges. And as global understanding grows, so does economic growth. Today Chinese companies are creating great Hoosier jobs in all corners of our state, and Indiana-based companies are thriving globally. Through the relationships we’re forming on this trip, I’m confident that this is just the beginning of generations of growth to come.”  

Governor Mike Pence concluded business in Beijing today learning how Indiana-headquartered Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is leading the way in innovation and production of clean technology at its Beijing Foton Cummins Engine Company.

“For Cummins, it starts in Indiana. Technology developed by Hoosiers in Columbus is powering Cummins engines built around the world, including here in China,” said Pence. “As Cummins grows and thrives in these markets, more high-wage jobs in engineering and R&D are created at home.”  

Established in 2008, the Beijing Foton-Cummins facility (BFCEC) produces the Cummins ISF light duty engine and ISG heavy duty engine, both meet tough emission standards while achieving a high degree of fuel efficiency. Even though the engine platforms are targeted primarily for Chinese markets, their cutting-edge technology is a result of the collaboration of a global team, including more than 100 U.S. engineers, many of whom are based in Columbus, Indiana. 

“We are thrilled  to show the Governor one of Cummins’  most successful joint ventures that delivers both economic and environmental benefits for our customers,” said Steve Chapman, vice president, China and Russia of Cummins. “As a truly global company, Cummins is well positioned to capture market opportunities in diverse geographic markets by leveraging strong engineering resources and rich market experiences from the U.S. and other places. This will not only fuel our growth in local market, but also creates value for our stakeholders in the U.S.” 

As the largest independent maker of diesel engines in the world, Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins is a global power leader  developing and advancing cutting-edge solutions and products that produce high quality, clean diesel engines for customers around the world. In Indiana alone, the Fortune 160 company has approximately 9,000 employees at multiple locations across the state that design, make and sell products found in a broad range of on and off highway vehicles.

The company’s ties to China date back to 1975 when then-CEO J. Irwin Miller led the company’s first delegation to Beijing. Today Cummins is recognized as the largest foreign investor in the China diesel engine industry. 

Later in the day, the Governor, First Lady and delegation traveled to Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, Indiana’s Chinese sister state. There, they co-hosted with Zhejiang officials a reception attended by more than 75 local business leaders.

As Governor Mike Pence begins his five-day jobs and economic development mission in China, he is showcasing the work of Indiana’s artisans throughout the trip by practicing the East Asian ritual of gift giving. 

“China’s ancient history was on display today during our visit to the Great Wall,” said Pence. “The rich history at the wall reminded me of Indiana’s history and the vital threads that make up the very fabric of Indiana culture. During our meetings this week with Chinese business and government leaders, we’ll be presenting these Hoosier-made pieces of art that tell our story and showcase our heritage as a state dedicated to quality and craftsmanship.” 

Gift giving is important in Asian business protocol and emphasis is placed on this ritual. During the trip, the Governor is presenting high-ranking business leaders with wooden bowls produced by Madison-based Chapman Woodturning Inc., which feature a raw, bark edging and Indiana’s state seal laser-engraved on the bottom. Crafted by artisan Gary Chapman, who retired from the Madison Consolidated School District after 34 years of teaching art, the bowls are hand crafted from local fallen and discarded trees of the Indiana forests. 

“Indiana’s natural beauty is already a work of art,” said Chapman. “It’s my passion to transform wood from fallen trees in our state’s forests into bowls and other wood creations. It is an honor to have my bowls given as gifts on the Governor’s trip to China and an honor to represent Indiana’s artist community to leaders half way around the globe. I hope Chinese government and business officials treasure these bowls as a reminder of all that Indiana has to offer.” 

Amish wall-hanging quilts from Shipshewana-based Little Helpers Quilt Shop are also among the gifts being given to high-ranking Chinese business leaders and government officials. Comprised of 40,000-50,000 hand-sewn stitches, Amish quilts from Indiana are a craft and tradition that date back more than a hundred years, originating with European Amish families moving to the Hoosier State in the mid-1800s.  

The Governor is also presenting Kokomo-based Kokomo Opalescent Glass hand-blown glass vessels, which feature an etching of the company’s name and the Indiana state seal.  

First Lady Karen Pence is presenting silk scarves with a watercolor print of Indiana’s official state flower, the Peony, to company and culture officials in China. The First Lady painted the original watercolor that is used as the design for the scarf.  

Gifts including a greeting card set featuring photographs of Indiana’s state parks, neckties in state colors and pens featuring the Governor’s signature will also be given to officials in attendance at the meetings. 

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation purchased the gifts using private contributions from the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.  

The Governor also kicked off his week in Beijing by meeting with the Haier Group, the largest Chinese multinational consumer electronics and home appliances company, to thank them for choosing Evansville, Indiana for its tech center last fall. 

Photo Courtesy of Brookings Institute

The Global Cities Initiative, a joint project between the Brookings Institute and JP Morgan Chase, released the Metro Indianapolis Export Plan. The plan, which included the support of partners Indy Chamber, Butler University and IUPUI, details an export-focused market assessment, export plan and policy initiatives designed to build and sustain a competitive nine-county region. China represented one of the rising export markets for local companies along with Russia, India, South Africa and Brazil.

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