Over the past 11 years, Indiana’s
economy has grown in size and diversity. With an estimated
2001 Gross State Product of approximately $190bn, Indiana’s
economy ranks as the 16th largest in the country in
terms of the value of goods and services produced.
Indiana benefits from proximity to major markets and
population centres – both national and international.
Businesses can access markets and population centres
in the north through Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence Seaway; and to the south through
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. With 11,300 miles of
state highways and 1,171 miles of interstate highways,
Indiana has more highways passing through it than any
other state. Indiana is within a day’s drive of
twothirds
of the population of the US.
TRANSPORTATION
Indiana is bordered on the north by Lake Michigan and
the state of Michigan, on the south by the Ohio River
and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, on the east by the
state of Ohio and on the west by the state of Illinois.
The “Crossroads of America,” Indiana is
centrally
situated within the Great Lakes region and is within
a day’s drive of nearly two-thirds of the US population.
EDUCATION
Elementary and secondary education in the state is provided
by 294 school districts, which, in the 2001- 02 school
year, operated 1,152 elementary schools, 256 elementary/middle
or junior high schools, 20 elementary/high schools,
89 middle or junior high schools/high schools, 75 middle
or junior high schools, 242 high schools and 131 schools
housing special education, vocational education and
alternative programmes.
INDUSTRY DIVERSITY
Over the course of the past decade, investment and expansion
in certain high-wage industrial sectors have occurred
in Indiana, while declining elsewhere. Many industry
analysts and economists often refer to Indiana’s
economy as one that is over-reliant on one or two industrial
sectors. However, it should be noted that Indiana’s
large industrial sector is not characterised by one
or two predominant industries, but is notable for its
industrial diversity.
EXPORTS
In 2002, the state’s exports were over $14.9bn.
Canada remained Indiana’s largest trading partner
in 2000 with Mexico now emerging as the second leading
export partner. Vehicles, machinery and electrical machinery
continue to be the leading export sectors, but areas
such as medical equipment, organic chemicals and plastic
are rising in importance.
Indot
100 N.Senate Avenue
Room 1GCN 755
Indianapolis, IN46204
Tel:
+1 317 232 5533
Website:
www.state.in.us
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