Jim Plump of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. is among 35 Hoosier business and community leaders traveling to Japan today with Gov. Mike Pence and first lady Karen Pence to bring jobs and investment to Indiana.

They will return to Indiana on Sept. 18.

“With more than 250 Japan-owned businesses operating in Indiana today, the state’s relationship with Japan is crucial to our economy and continued job creation in the Hoosier State,” Mike Pence said in a news release. “Since January 2013, we have announced more than 2,100 new job commitments and nearly $800 million in planned capital investment from Japanese companies operating in Indiana. I’m looking forward to returning to the site of my first gubernatorial jobs mission to continue this momentum by sharing Indiana’s story as a state that works for business.”

This will be Pence’s seventh international trade mission and his second to Japan as governor. Members of the state delegation include economic development professionals, local elected officials and business leaders representing industries such as manufacturing, compliance, construction, finance, legal and utilities.

In his 31 years as executive director of JCIDC, Plump has made 25 trips to Japan. With seven Japanese-based companies in the county, the trips are crucial, Plump said.

In addition to the governor and first lady, the state will be represented by Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith.

The cost of the state delegation is being covered through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.