CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as a delegation made up of business, education and government leaders from around the state will depart on a trade mission to Japan to focus on key growth industries for the state.
Japan is Illinois’ 8th largest export market, totaling $2.59 billion in 2023. Japanese imports to Illinois totalled $8.02 billion in 2023.
“Manufacturing provides the single largest share of Illinois’ economy and relies on the ability to sell products across the world. Japan is one of the largest trading partners for Illinois and a leading source of foreign direct investment,” said Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Leaders joining the trade mission include:
Governor JB Pritzker
Senate President Don Harmon
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch
Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham
House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel
Anne Caprara, Chief of Staff of the Governor’s Office
Andy Manar, Deputy Governor
Grace Hou, Deputy Governor
Martin Torres, Deputy Governor
Sean Rapelyea, Senior Advisor for External Affairs, Governor’s Office
Claire Lindberg, First Assistant Deputy Governor, Governor’s Office
Connor Josellis, Director of the Executive Office of the Governor
Tina Yan, Deputy Chief of Staff, Digital Media, Governor’s Office
Clare O’Neill, Senior Director of Advance, Governor’s Office
Morgan Evans, Senior Advancer, Governor’s Office
Kristin Richards, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Cas Peters, Chief Business Attraction Officer of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Christy George, President and CEO of Intersect Illinois
John Atkinson, Board Chair of Intersect Illinois and Managing Director and Chairman of Marsh Chicago
Paulina San Millan, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Intersect Illinois
Preeti Chalsani, Chief Quantum Officer of Intersect Illinois
David Awschalom, Director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange
Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest
Rashid Bashir, Dean of UIUC Grainger College of Engineering
William Cox, Senior Vice President of AISIN
Wendell Dallas, President and CEO of Nicor Gas
Kara Demirjian Huss, Senior Vice President of TCCI
Mark Denzler, President and CEO of Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Kaitlin Fahey, CEO and Founding Partner of Magnify Strategies
Michael Fassnacht, Chief Growth Officer and President of Clayco Chicagoland
Chris Gladwin, Chair at P33 and CEO of Ocient
Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association
Harley Johnson, Director of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park
Regina Jones, Sr. Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of ADM
Robert Karr, Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Dan Lynch, Vice President of Government Affairs at United Airlines
Nadya Mason, Dean of Pritzker School of Engineering and Interim Vice President for Partnerships at University of Chicago
Bill Mastoris, President of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas
Christian Mitchell, Vice President for Civic Engagement at University of Chicago
Takashi O’Haru, President of White Cube LLC
Meredith O’Connor, International Director of JLL
Eric Perreault, Vice President for Research at Northwestern University
Dwayne Pickett, Vice President of Clean Hydrogen Market Development at Constellation
Barton Pitts, Vice President of Business Development at Nexamp Solar
Gil Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd
Meera Raja, SVP of Deep Tech at P33Jim Reynolds, Chairman and CEO of Loop Capital
Josh Richman, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at PsiQuantum
Smita N. Shah, CEO of SPAAN Tech IncLenny Singh, Chairman and President of Ameren Illinois