Aisin Manufacturing in Marion recently hosted Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Japanese consul general for the Midwest during a tour of southern Illinois.
Rauner and the consul general, Naoki Ito, visited with leaders in the education and manufacturing fields in the region, a state of Illinois news release said.
Aisin Manufacturing, an automotive parts supplier, started in Illinois in 2001 by opening one plant and has since grown to three plants with more than 2,500 employees combined.
Gov. Bruce Rauner
"Aisin is very pleased to support the Japan consulate-Midwest visit to our plant and honored that Gov. Rauner was able to attend," Aisin Manufacturing Executive Vice President Glenn Edwards said in the news release. "This type of interaction and activity is key to a positive, long-term business relationship."
Jefferson County Development Corporation Executive Director Jonathon Hallberg said in the release that the connection between the state and Japan was established more than 140 years ago.
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