WALWORTH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kikkoman Foods Inc. today announced it will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Wisconsin soy sauce production facility with a conference that will explore issues of innovation in global economic development. Kikkoman’s Walworth, Wis., plant began operating in 1973 and has grown to be the most productive naturally brewed soy sauce plant in the world.
The conference will be held at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wis., on June 7. Preeminent leaders in politics, academia and business from Japan and the United States will lead the discussions at the conference. These distinguished leaders include:
- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
- Mr. Toshihiko Fukui, former governor of the Bank of Japan
- Mr. Ryoki Sugita, chairman, Japan Center for Economic Research and retired chairman and chief executive, Nikkei Inc., one of the world’s largest financial media companies
- Dr. Randall Kroszner, professor of economics at the University of Chicago School of Business, former governor, Federal Reserve System, and former member, President’s Council of Economic Advisors
- Mr. Minoru Makihara, former chairman, Mitsubishi Corp., one of Japan’s largest companies
- Mr. John Schilfske, chairman and chief executive, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
The conference, the fifth of its kind sponsored by Kikkoman, will explore the similarities and differences in the economic experiences of the two countries during the past several years and how each is dealing with those difficulties. Conference participants will focus on innovations in international economic development that could increase growth in the global economy.
The conference will be co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive and chairman of the board of Kikkoman Corp. and Kikkoman Foods Inc., will represent Kikkoman. UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell and WEDC Chief Executive Reed Hall will represent their organizations.
“While the languages and cultures of the United States and Japan are very different, we share a difficult economic environment,” Mr. Mogi said. “In this environment, we must actively seek out new opportunities. Old strategies will no longer bring the success that they once did. In the new economy, if you are not changing and innovating, you will be left behind. This new economic reality requires creativity, patience and a willingness to take risks. I look forward to a vigorous and informative discussion of these and other important economic issues at our conference.”
“We are very pleased to welcome these outstanding political, academic and business leaders to Wisconsin for what will be an exceptional conference,” Gov. Walker said. “The discussion at the upcoming conference sponsored by Kikkoman, UW-Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. can identify innovative, new strategies for spurring global economic growth through innovation. I thank the conference sponsors and congratulate Kikkoman on the 40th anniversary of its Walworth plant, located just a stone’s throw from my hometown of Delavan, and now the largest plant of its kind in the world.”
