INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard announced today his planned economic development trip to Brazil, which had been slated for early May, is being postponed due to the current circumstances surrounding the CIB.
“The negotiations concerning the CIB are delicate and important.
Consequently, I have decided to postpone my economic development trip to Brazil so I can devote my full attention to preserving the downtown economy,” said Mayor Ballard.
“I still intend, when time and opportunity allow, to travel to Brazil to secure beneficial economic and technological exchanges that will brighten Indianapolis’ future by making it a destination for renewable energy production and technology,” he added.
The trip was made public a little over a month ago when the Mayor announced it during the March 11th board meeting of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee.
According to Carolin Requiz Smith, Director of the Mayor’s Office of International & Cultural Affairs, Mayor Ballard planned the trip as part of his 2009 international economic development agenda.
“The objective of the Brazil trip is to create partnerships with Brazilian states and cities to help make Indianapolis a leader in alterative, renewable, and sustainable energy research, as well as a hub for alternative energy production and workforce development,” said Ms Requiz Smith
Dr Andrew Hsu, advisor to the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy and a member of the Mayor’s Brazilian delegation, said a trip to develop partnerships with those on the forefront of renewable and sustainable energy would be a major boon to Indianapolis.
“If Indianapolis wants to become a major player in the energy field it needs to ally itself with those countries, businesses and educational institutions making the major innovations that will be shaping our future energy policies,” said Hsu
Mayor Ballard said that while the trip is postponed, he is still hoping to undertake his economic development trip later this year.
Source: Office of the Mayor of Indianapolis
