Indiana Global Economic Summit 2024 Recap
Governor Eric Holcomb welcomed international delegations from over 30 countries and territories as he kicked off the second Indiana Global Economic Summit on May 23.
This year’s summit, running through May 26 in Indianapolis, not only addresses pressing global issues such as AI, national security, and integrated health but also aligns with Aspire's goals in the economic development strategic plan.
“This week, we’ve brought the world to Indiana, and I couldn’t be more excited for these next few days of important discussions,” said Gov. Holcomb in his opening address at the Indianapolis Convention Center. “Together, with our home and away partners, we’re building the future economy and creating a better, more prosperous life for Hoosiers and all that we do business with.”
The event's agenda features discussions on sustaining a creative economy in an AI-driven future, navigating global trade, building supply chain resiliency, and leveraging defense strategy amid global conflicts. Business-to-business matchmaking and dialogues on economic security and workforce challenges are also key components of the summit.
Notable speakers include Dave Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly & Company, Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab AB, Ben Townsend, Global Head of Infrastructure & Sustainability at Google, and Kiva Allgood, Head of Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain at the World Economic Forum.
Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., and Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy, are also among the featured speakers.
Christian Maslowski, President and CEO of Aspire, also attended the summit.
“Each year, we see more and more international company project leads. The summit’s conversations about globalism and thinking big really emphasized how local communities must work regionally,” said Maslowski.
“Local community pride and investment is great. Local isolationism is not and will stifle company investment. Aspire’s work incorporates efforts to connect Johnson County to our region, state, and national network of resources and professionals. We’re on the right track,” he added.
Maslowski also noted the impact of local administrative processes on attracting international projects.
“Local timelines on zoning, permitting, and incentive approvals are still major decision factors,” he said. “We knew this to be true for domestic projects, but this is especially true for international projects. We can improve our chances of landing high-value company projects when we streamline elongated timelines.”
The summit follows the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit held in May 2022, which brought together over 900 participants from 30 countries. Feedback from that event indicated a strong perception of Indiana as a leader in innovation and economic development.