Governors Trip To India Could Mean Big Payoff For Indiana

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INDIANAPOLIS–The governor’s trip to India will likely result in a big payoff, said Jim Schellinger, Indiana’s secretary of Commerce, who accompanied Gov. Eric Holcomb, several state economic leaders and mayors to South Korea, China and India, earlier this month.

“So we were granted an audience with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, and we were taken aback at how well he knew Indiana. And, of course, he coined the governor’s phrase, you can’t even spell Indiana if you don’t start with India,” said Schellinger, on Inside Indiana Business.

Schellinger said the prime minister knew about many parts of life in Indiana, including education and sports.

“So, he basically asked the governor if Indiana would partner with all of our different leaders in sports, college, professional, amateur sports, if we would partner with them specifically to help him develop his vision for India in sports.”

While Holcomb was in India, the Indiana Pacers played the first-ever NBA game in the country.

Schellinger said India is also interesting in expanding their cultural and educational reach. He said India is also ready to expand its business partnership with Indiana. He said of the 75 meetings the Indiana delegation took in Indiana, three quarters of them had to do with business relationships.

“Toyota Princeton-when we were in Toyota, having dinner at Toyota headquarters, they announced they were going to expand the Princeton plant by 600 people and put a $1 billion investment. When we show up, our batting average soars,” said Schellinger.

He said the trip may result in thousands of jobs being added in the state.

 

cover photo: Gov Holcomb meets with PMO India Narendra Modi.
photo courtesy Gov Holcomb’s Facebook page.