Dear Friends: More than 148,000 Indiana workers are employed by approximately 700 international companies, including more than 86,000 employees involved in international manufacturing companies. Indiana’s key investment partners include Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Some 70 companies from the United Kingdom – including BP, Rolls-Royce, Tomkins, BAE Systems, Rexam, GKN and others – have chosen Indiana for their plants. U.K. companies employ nearly 26,700 Indiana residents and have invested almost $6.1 billion in the state – placing Indiana sixth among U.S. states for U.K. investment. The Rolls-Royce aviation facility in Indianapolis, for example, is the company’s largest manufacturing facility outside of the United Kingdom, employing more than 4,000 workers. U.K. investment in Indiana continues to grow. In 2006, British Petroleum committed to invest $3 billion in upgrading its Whiting, Ind., oil refinery – one of that year’s biggest European investments in America. The United Kingdom also is Indiana’s third largest export market. Indiana exports to the U.K. now approach $1.9 billion annually and rank 9th in the U.S. In July, 2008 for the first time in the state’s history, the independent credit rating agency Standard& Poor’s Ratings Service (S&P) raised Indiana’s credit rating AAA. The upgrade from AA+ "reflects the state's continued strong management that has led to the property tax reform that has realigned state and local spending and is not expected to impact the state's long-term financial performance. As well, the state's commitment to attract diverse jobs through its economic development efforts has translated into a shift away from traditional manufacturing employment," said the credit agency. We would like to extend a personal invitation to visit Indiana and to experience firsthand all that the state has to offer. We hope Indiana’s presence in the United Kingdom will add to this history of partnership and success by strengthening existing relationships and building new ones. Sincerely,
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“The creation of this economic development package was done in the true spirit of partnership and Rolls-Royce has received tremendous support and cooperation from both the state’s and the city’s economic development teams.” Steven F. Dwyer
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Edita Sawyers