Governor Steve Beshear leaves Saturday for an economic development trip to Japan. The governor's office says the trip marks an effort to strengthen and encourage international investment in Kentucky.
More than 160 Japanese facilities are situated in Kentucky, employing more than 40,000people. Governor Beshear says he's determined to extend Kentucky's successful track record for attracting Japanese companies. Foreign direct investment has played a key role in boosting the state's economy.
Last year, almost 40 percent of all capital investments and a third of new jobs announced in manufacturing, service, and technology industries were a result of foreign owned enterprises. To help bolster economic development leads in Asia, Kentucky also operates an international office in Tokyo.?