Gov. Eric Holcomb talks to reporters on Tuesday, August 6. Holcomb will be making his 25th international economic development trip this week to Slovakia and Italy. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz of Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Whitney Downard
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANA — Indiana’s chief executive will leave for Europe this week on an international economic development trip with a focus of defense, mobility and racing partnerships. The delegation will include Indiana Adjutant General Major General Dale Lyles of the Indiana National Guard, with visits in both Slovakia and Italy.

“Indiana and Slovakia have a three-decade-long partnership that has only strengthened over the last mission driven eight years,” Holcomb said in a statement. “I look forward to building upon our shared priorities in defense and honoring the sacred anniversary of when the Slovaks regained their freedom. As we travel on to Italy, we will likewise build upon Indiana’s front-row seat in the growth and innovation in the future of motorsports and life sciences.”

Holcomb has spent several weeks so far this year — his last in office — traveling on four other trips to eight countries.

This will be his 25th international economic development trip as governor and costs for his travel will be covered by private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. The Indiana National Guard will cover travel costs for Slovakia.

Holcomb will leave for Slovakia Tuesday, Aug. 27 with Lyles to meet Slovak government leaders and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising during World War II. Both will attend ceremonies in Banska Bystrica and visit Hoosier soldiers and airmen in Slovakia.

“The Indiana National Guard and Slovak Republic’s purposeful and productive military partnership is three decades strong,” said Lyles in a release. “Commemorating the 80th anniversary of one of Slovakia’s proudest moments alongside Gov. Holcomb is meaningful to the Hoosier soldiers and airmen representing our nation and state in Slovakia and demonstrates the enduring bond Indiana and Slovakia share.”

This week’s visit will be Holcomb’s third to Slovakia, including one in 2018 and another in 2022. The Indiana National Guard has “a strong 30-year partnership” with the country, which includes joint military training and security cooperation, according to the release. The Guard delivered F-16 fighter aircraft purchased by Slovakia to the country in July 2024.

Indiana and Slovakia exchanged $1.14 million worth of goods in 2023 and three Hoosier companies have local business facilities: Berry Global Group, Eli Lilly & Company and Green Cubes Technology.

Following his time in Slovakia, Holcomb will travel to the Lombardy region of northern Italy on Saturday, Aug. 31, along with representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. This leg of the trip will focus on motorsports partnerships, including a delegation trip to Milan to attend the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia race at Autodromo Nationale Monza on Sept. 1.

There he will meet with industry leaders, including representatives from Arrow McLaren Racing, Prema Racing and Sparco. Holcomb has also scheduled meetings with local government officials — including U.S. Consul General to Milan Douglass Benning and Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana — and a roundtable discussion hosted by President Fontana.

Indiana’s team will then travel to the headquarters of Dallara, the exclusive designer and manufacturer of chassis for the Verizon IndyCar Series. Dallara’s only facility outside of Italy is in Speedway.

Holcomb has visited Italy in an official capacity once before in 2018. Indiana has 35 Italian business facilities, largely with a racing and mobility supply chain focus. In addition to Dallara, such companies includes Sirmax, Coram USA and OMR Automotive.

The two countries exchanged more than $5.16 billion worth of goods in 2023, ranging from chemicals and machinery to transportation equipment and electronics.