Ohio Governor DeWine MWJA Conference Opening Ceremony Speech

Good morning, everyone.

It's an honor for me to kick off what we know is going to be a very exciting day today at this year's U.S. Japan Association Conference. Right after I was elected governor in 2018, we took our first overseas mission to Japan. My wife and I, and it was a wonderful, wonderful trip. And since that visit, we've looked forward to welcoming our fellow governors from the Midwest and our fellow governors from Japan here in Ohio. And so this is a day that we've really been looking forward to.

Today we will work together to establish and strengthen ties leading to ongoing prosperity between the Midwest and Japan. That prosperity is something that we realize every day, here in Ohio. But before I talk a little bit about Ohio, let me just say that today with this meeting, we celebrate something that goes much beyond Ohio, goes much beyond the Midwest, and that is the United States people's relationship with the people of Japan.

We are friends. We are allies. We work together. It is something that transcends politics. And it's something that continues no matter who is in office. And so I think we should remind ourselves of that. It is a very good thing to think about. A very happy thing to think about as we really get into this conference and as we, as we celebrate this.

Now, let me talk a little bit about Ohio. Hundreds of Japanese companies have chosen to call Ohio home. Japanese owned companies employ more than 68,000 Ohioans, and that represents 17% of all employment by foreign companies in the state of Ohio. Those companies and their employees, they continue to grow and thrive here in the heart of the Midwest.

We believe that truly, Ohio is the heart of it all. Companies choose Ohio because of our best in class infrastructure that moves products through the state to markets, construction ready sites, talented workforce, and perhaps most importantly, a feeling that business leaders around the globe have experienced and they've expressed to us—and that is when we're in Ohio, we're home.

You know, a lot has changed in Ohio since our overseas mission to Japan in 2019. And we're seeing great growth. We dramatically risen in the ranks of CNBC's Top States for business, moving up 27 spots since 2010. And as of 2023, Ohio is one of only 16 states with a Triple A rating credit rating from Moody's, Fitch and Standard Poor's for fiscal health.

Last week, for the second year in a row, Ohio was ranked number one in site selection’s Global groundwork Index, an annual ranking that recognizes job creation, capital expenditures and public and private infrastructure development over a five year period of time. We're very, very proud of that. Let me personally thank the many Japanese companies that have remained steady partners with Ohio over the years.

Japan remains a top international investor in Ohio, with more than 700 business sites throughout the state. These successful partnerships are forging the future of the state's very diverse industries. Intel recently chose Ohio's location for its new state of the art semiconductor facilities. And Japanese suppliers will be critical to producing the most advanced semiconductor chips on Earth.

In the automotive industry, Ohio has become a leading manufacturer of EV batteries. If you travel south on State Route 71, you'll see a state of the art manufacturing facility rising from what was cornfields. Just 42 miles from where we are right here will be the new home of the Honda LG Energy Solution Battery factory that will power the electric cars of the future.

Today, Honda manufactures some of the top passenger vehicles sold in the United States and innovative advancements are in the pipeline. This summer, Honda announced its first Acura electric vehicle and began production of the all new 2025 Honda CRV fuel electric vehicle as a performance manufacturing center in Marysville, Ohio, the only vehicle of its kind currently manufactured in the United States.

You know, innovation is woven into the foundation of our state's economy. I like to say innovation is really part of Ohio's DNA. Where my key priorities is investments in what we call innovation hubs. These are in our small to midsize cities. And the goal is to expand our state's innovation strategy. And we do this along with what we call innovation districts in our larger cities of Cleveland and Cincinnati and Columbus.

These hubs, these districts, are all designed to build upon our industry strength as a state. These hubs, driven by their anchor institutions and by neighboring establishments, are driving research and development and creating a talent pipeline for the future of our state's economy. Each one of these is working with our major colleges and universities. As I said last night, one of the things that makes Ohio unique is not only do we have The Ohio State University with 65,000 students here, but we also have 13 other state universities and over 50 private institutions, over 65 four year colleges and universities.

Talking about these innovation hubs. These are places such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, and NASA Glenn Research Center, the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, all of them contributing the brainpower to these hubs. Honda and The Ohio State University are partnering to build a state of the art battery cell research and development center at the Columbus Innovation District.

As part of the Cleveland Innovation District, Canon health care is iadvancing the future of medical imaging, This is so very, very important. We're doing this with the support of Doctor Fujita, a long time friend and advocate of innovation in Ohio and also a former chair of the board at The Ohio State University. Last month, we announced a $35 million investment for the Ohio Innovation Hubs program to build the on main innovation hub in the Dayton region focused on digital transformation to drive advancements in aviation and in national defense.

Ohio is the epicenter of advanced mobility and the first state with a statewide strategy. And so we're very, very proud of that fact. The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Springfield, Ohio, supports the development of advanced air mobility technology and provides a collaborative space for companies to work on aerospace research, design, testing, and training.

And in Northeast Ohio, Bridgestone America's Technology Center is where breakthroughs are being made in smart tires, connected mobility, and alternative materials. And last week, we announced over $31 million for the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, where the Bridgestone and 70 other partners are driving the future forward. In the coming years Joby aviation will make the air taxis of the future right here in Ohio, in Dayton, Ohio. And GE Aerospace is mobilizing a new era of growth in aerospace, aviation and defense engineering, with its new headquarters in Cincinnati.

First Solar in northwest Ohio is the largest manufacturer of solar panels in the Western Hemisphere, and Japan's Pilkington North America Inc. in nearby Rossford is a key glass supplier. You know, Toledo has a legacy as the glass capital of the world, and that's the reason why we announced over $31 million for the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub to accelerate innovation and job growth in both the glass sector and in the solar industry.

As we look to the future of Ohio, one thing I think is very clear, Japanese companies are a critical part of Ohio's future. Here in the heart of the Midwest, global companies continue to gain a competitive advantage. Business leaders across diverse industries have been a trusted partner with our administration.

Now, let me let me close with this.I think one thing that makes Ohio unique is that we have the first of its kind, private economic development corporation and what we call JobsOhio. You had the opportunity yesterday to meet J.P. Nauseef, who heads it up. And as you move around today, you'll see the signs JobsOhio, that helped us put this conference on.

JobsOhio gives us, we believe, a real competitive advantage. It is unique to Ohio, it is part of Ohio's competitive advantage. And we believe that this is so important. But we also want Ohio and JobsOhio to be your competitive advantage.

JobsOhio is private, which means less red tape. Being able to pivot and move faster. It's not for profit, which means you and your people as companies come first.

JobsOhio's mission is to help companies and their people succeed and thrive in Ohio. We aren't just with you for the groundbreaking, we work alongside you while you get permits, road work is done, and move your supply network.

JobsOhio and our administration work hand in hand. We work together, JobsOhio and our administration will be with you every step of the way until your ribbon cutting and beyond, as you change and grow.

We truly believe when we welcome a company into Ohio, when we welcome Japanese company into Ohio, that that relationship will continue for decades. It is not a case where we say yes, you say you're coming in, we had the groundbreaking and everything stops. We think where we have the real competitive advantage, and we do this through JobsOhio and through our administration, working hand in hand, is continuing that close relationship through the construction, and then when the manufacturing or the work starts, we think it is the follow through. That is the most important thing.

So if you're ready to grow or expand your business, Ohio is the place.

Let's grow together here in the heart of it all, in this great state of Ohio.

Please enjoy the conference. Thank you all very much.