INDIANAPOLIS – A who’s who of Hoosier and global leaders took the stage on March 5 at the 2008 Indiana University Business Conference to highlight Indiana’s assets for winning in the global game.

Taking as its theme “Building Indiana’s Competitive Edge in the Global Economy: Strategies That Work,” the event was presented by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in conjunction with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

“Indiana is in a position to benefit from globalization,” said FedEx CEO Fred Smith to the group assembled in downtown Indianapolis for the daylong conference. FedEx operates its second-largest overnight delivery hub at Indianapolis International Airport.

Smith joined Hoosier executives David Simon, chairman and CEO of the globe-girdling Simon Property Group; Tony George, CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels; Cathy Langham, president of Langham Logistics; and Indiana University President Michael McRobbie.

Smith – who previously keynoted at the 2006 Midwest-Japan Biotechnology Summit in Indianapolis – described a world that is shrinking through online communication. The former barriers of different currencies and languages are falling, which presents FedEx with increasing ease for complex shipping.

Indiana, which has been the median center of the U.S. population for more than a century, holds a remarkable advantage for global growth in the transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL) industry. Smith says this accounts for why FedEx is expanding its sorting facility at the Indianapolis airport.

The FedEx founder also commented on the soundness of Indiana focusing on advanced manufacturing (particularly on companies that specialize in complex medical devices). Since few alternatives for such specialized products exist globally, Smith says this gives Indiana a distinct advantage here and abroad.

Simon Property Group recently built a new international headquarters in the shadow of Indiana’s capitol building. This leads Simon to comment: “We’re a global company, but we’re clearly based in Indianapolis.”

Before the early 1990s, Simon Property Group was essentially a regional retail competitor. Through successful and aggressive growth strategies, the Indiana-based company now owns nearly 400 major properties worldwide including key operations in Japan, Europe and South Korea.

Speaking about the explosive growth of Indianapolis, which is now making a renewed bid to host the Super Bowl, Simon said: “We are the envy of many, many Midwestern cities. We need to continue that.”

Given current fears of a possible recession amid regional stagflation, many in the conference awaited comments from Daniels, who is running for reelection in 2008. His comments were well received: “Historically, Midwestern states have taken it in the neck harder than most states in a recession. Indiana will be entering it in better shape than in the past.”

Daniels cited the established, business-friendly climate strongly fashioned by his administration over the past four years. This and an aggressive job-building stance by the IEDC have helped produce a state unemployment level that’s lower than other Midwestern states.

The economic diversity and logistics advantages pointed out by Smith earlier in the conference put the Hoosier state in a position not only to weather any possible recession but to grow globally right through it. As proof, Daniels declared: “Exports have clearly been on the rise in this state. It may offer us some protection we didn’t have in the past.”

Langham echoed the governor’s perspective: “We should continue to grow no matter what.”

Work force development in Hoosierland will continue to be an issue. To combat this, Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George says Indiana must continue to focus on developing and sustaining a flexible work force that’s capable of adapting to changes in a 21st century business environment.

New Indiana University President McRobbie promised to the group that the university will continue to expand its influence and positive presence in Hoosier economic development and that the university will grow its operations in faculty-supported research and new business development.

Simon says primary education at the K-12 level needs to be overhauled in Indiana. With real reform, the Hoosier state can produce a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs much better prepared to compete globally. The annual Indianapolis conference was the 62nd statewide business conference produced by Indiana University.