Gov. J.B. Pritzker leaves on Saturday for a six-day visit to Japan aimed at strengthening Illinois' economic ties with Japan in areas such as clean energy and quantum computing.
Pritzker will be joined by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, Midwest Affairs President Kurt Bailey, ComEd, and others49 He leads trade missions with other government officials and Illinois business leaders. CEO Gil Quinines. Christy George, former Democratic National Committee host chair and current leader of Intersect Illinois, rounds out the list of state's top contenders.
The Midwest Associated State last month announced the development of the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, a 128-acre quantum campus where CyQuantum will be based at the former U.S. Steel South plant. Related The Midwest is also trying to gain support for building a new White Sox stadium on the South Loop's The 78 site, but so far the effort, especially with Pritzker, has not gained any traction. I haven't gotten any.
The governor's office said the trip to Japan will focus on clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences and quantum computing.
Pritzker is scheduled to visit with President Joe Biden's U.S. ambassador to Japan, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and others. Mr. Pritzker and Mr. Emanuel have garnered attention and research funding to support the experimental field of quantum research, which they believe is essential to national security.
Pritzker went on a four-day mission trip to Canada in June. He also spent seven days in the UK in July 2023 on a mission trip focused on clean energy and technological advances. He traveled to Davos, Switzerland in January 2023 to speak at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting and tout the nation's achievements.
Pritzker and his group will depart for Japan on Saturday and return to Japan on Thursday, October 10, the governor's office said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson also announced Friday that he will participate in World Business Chicago in London in late October to strengthen Chicago's “global presence” and foster economic development.
