Grow QC travels to Japan with State of Illinois for Conference
Peter Tokar III, President & CEO of Grow Quad Cities, attended the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association's 55th Conference in Tokyo. Fourteen public sector, education and economic development leaders from Illinois attended the conference, along with counterparts in Iowa and across eight other Midwestern states. More than 100 Japanese corporations were in attendance as well. The goal of the Conference was to strengthen investment and trade ties and explore new collaboration opportunities. Japan remains one of Illinois’ most important global economic partners. Illinois exported $2.5 billion in goods to Japan in 2024, making it the state’s 9th largest export market. Imports from Japan totaled $7 billion, making it the 6th largest source of imported goods to Illinois.
"I was privileged to attend the 55th US Midwest Japan/Japan US Midwest Annual Conference," said Tokar. "For more than half a century, these organizations have built strong foreign relations and partnered in commerce, education and knowledge-share. I was pleased to have the opportunity to build relationships and showcase the Quad Cities from both the Illinois and Iowa perspectives at the conference."
Those attending the Conference included:
- Peter Tokar III, President & CEO, Grow Quad Cities
- Kristin Richards, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Cas Peters, Chief Business Development Officer, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Margo Markopoulos, Deputy Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Trade and Investment
- Motoshi Yamada, Managing Director, State of Illinois Asia-Pacific Office
- Christy George, President and CEO, Illinois EDC
- Paulina San Milan, SVP Business Development, Illinois EDC
- Preeti Chalsani, SVP Chief Quantum Officer, Illinois EDC
- Robin Ficke, SVP Research, Illinois EDC
- Kaitlyn McDermott, VP of Operations, Illinois EDC
- Masashi Mizobuchi, Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in Chicago
- Norihiko Ishiguro, Chairman & CEO, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
- Laura Appenzeller, Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park
- Patrick Hoban, CEO, Bloomington Normal Economic Development Corporation
