STATE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO ATTEND HANNOVER TRADE FAIR
Johnson to Market Ohio at World’s Largest Industrial Trade Show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2004

Columbus, OH -- State Development Director Bruce Johnson and a team of business and government representatives from across the state will travel to Hannover, Germany next week to market Ohio and encourage business investment and expansion in the state. Johnson will attend the first two days of the 2004 Hannover Trade Fair, which lasts from April 19 through April 24.

“In today’s global marketplace we must aggressively compete to bring good jobs to Ohio,” Director Johnson said. “The Hannover Trade Fair is an important venue in which to connect with European business leaders, and to promote Ohio’s assets in a world arena.”

The Hannover Trade Fair is the largest industrial trade show in the world with 6,100 exhibitors and more than 300,000 visitors. Director Johnson and Ohio representatives are scheduled to meet with more than 100 European companies interested in the U.S. market, and will pursue meetings with approximately 250 more during the six-day trade fair.

State representation at the Hannover Trade Fair is the result of a private/public partnership between the Ohio Economic Development Council (OEDC) and the Ohio Department of Development. This year marks the 11th year in which the ODOD and the OEDC have exhibited at the Hannover Trade Fair. The OEDC consists of financial institutions, utility companies, chambers of commerce and other local development agencies.

The team of nearly 20 Ohio business development professionals participating in the trade fair includes representatives from the following organizations: First Energy Corporation; Cinergy; Fifth Third Bank; Edison Materials Technology Center; German Link; Toledo Regional Growth Partnership; Ohio Department of Development; Dayton Development Coalition; Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce; Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; Allen County Economic Development Group; and the City of Akron.