Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Indiana Capital Chronicle Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz.

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb departed Thursday for his next economic development trip — this time to the Netherlands, Belgium and France — to build on discussions and “deepen relationships” within the microelectronic and semiconductor industries, according to his office.

It’s the governor’s third international economic development trip this year — his second visit to France and Belgium and first visit to the Netherlands — and his 23rd such trip as governor. His last privately funded international trip, in April, took him to Brazil and Mexico.

Holcomb’s travel is being paid for through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.

“Coming on the heels of our second Indiana Global Economic Summit, it’s more top-of-mind than ever that our international partners have been key to the record-breaking levels of investment coming into Indiana in the last few years,” Holcomb said in a statement. “These three countries have helped us level up in semiconductors and microelectronics and have forged new and prosperous relationships with our higher education institutions.”

Holcomb will be joined by First Lady Janet Holcomb, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg and representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, his office said.

Also in tow are representatives from the Bloomington-based Applied Research Institute, including David Roberts, CEO; Jimmy Costa, senior vice president of innovation and semiconductor strategy; and Roger Reeves, vice president of industrial relations.

The group is scheduled to return to Indianapolis Saturday, June 8.

In the Netherlands, the delegation will meet with the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, as well as the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Belgium, the group will meet with Redwire, a space satellite design and development company, and the Chamber of Commerce Antwerp. Holcomb and the delegation will also meet with imec, a research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies.

In 2023, imec committed to work with Indiana officials and Purdue University to advance research and development in the state’s semiconductor sector. In December 2023, imec additionally opened a new research and development hub on Purdue’s campus.

Also on Holcomb’s Belgium agenda are meetings with representatives of the European Union External Action Service, and the Minister-President of Flanders, Jan Jambon. The governor’s office pointed to a 2023 memorandum of understanding between Indiana and Flanders “to further strengthen cooperation on semiconductors, life sciences and energy.”

Later, in France, Holcomb will pay respects to members of the armed forces during a visit to Normandy and attend the U.S.-France D-Day Anniversary Ceremony. He’ll also visit Utah Beach with Carver McGriff, a Hoosier D-Day veteran, according to his office.

There are 1,050 foreign-owned businesses in Indiana, according to the governor’s office. Last year, those companies committed to investing $20.49 billion to locate or expand operations in Indiana – a 182% increase from 2022 — which created approximately 8,500 new Hoosier jobs.