Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora will be the only university president among members of the largest trade delegation in Indiana history, which will travel to Taiwan and Japan July 30 through Aug. 7.

Gov. Mitch Daniels, who will be the first sitting governor of Indiana to visit Asia since 1998, asked Gora to join the delegation. That request is reflective of the important role higher education plays in the marketplace through research and through preparing graduates to compete in the global economy, said Marc Lotter, communications director for the governor.  

Daniels wants Gora, along with representatives from Indiana and Purdue universities, to spread the word about the strength of Indiana's higher education system, Lotter said.

"This trip provides me with the chance to tell the Ball State story to educational and business leaders in Taiwan and Japan," Gora said. "By relating to these leaders our strengths in areas such as business, digital media, education, and communications and information technology, I anticipate opening dialogs that may lead to mutually beneficial relationships."

The state has significant economic ties with both Taiwan and Japan. Indiana sends $99 million in exports to Taiwan every year, comprising chemicals, machinery and agricultural products, mainly soybeans. More than 200 Japanese companies have operations in Indiana, investing $7 billion in the state and employing more than 45,000 Hoosiers, Lotter said.

The delegation will meet with representatives of companies that have already invested in Indiana and will explore opportunities with potential new investors. Among the 80 people in the delegation will be Mickey Maurer, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC); Pat Miller, secretary of commerce and chief executive officer of IEDC; and state senators and representatives.

The trip will also include receptions for alumni from universities in Indiana, many of whom have risen to leadership positions in both countries. Ball State has 140 alumni living in Japan and 70 in Taiwan. A total of 45 students from those countries attended Ball State during the 2004-05 academic year.

"While I know our international alumni receive a steady stream of news about the university through our Alumnus magazine, I am eager to rekindle their connections on a more personal level and to reinforce or expand their understanding of the many great things going on at Ball State," Gora said.  

Other highlights of the trip include:

• visiting the Tochigi Prefecture, Indiana's sister state in Japan
• touring the world expo in Nagoya, and
• attending the Indianapolis Colts preseason game Aug. 6 at the Tokyo Dome, which includes a pregame reception with Japanese business leaders.

(Note to editors: For more information on the trade mission trip, contact Lotter at 317-233-8852.)