INDIANAPOLIS | With Gov. Mitch Daniels' travel plans redirected by wretched weekend weather, the task of leading Indiana's fourth Japanese trade mission in as many years fell to an experienced pinch hitter.

"The governor had planned to be here, and then nature intervened. But I'm happy to carry on," Indiana Commerce Secretary Nathan Feltman said Wednesday morning from Tokyo. "So far I've already met with companies that collectively represent over 10,000 jobs in Indiana, and by the end of the week I'll have met with companies that represent over 20,000 jobs in Indiana."

Feltman, who also serves as CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., finished a round of phone interviews with Indiana reporters just before the clock struck 11 p.m. in Japan's capital city. Earlier in the day, he visited with top executives of Nippon Steel Corp.

The Japanese company, a producer of galvanized steel products, recently reached a new partnership with ArcelorMittal that is expected to create 100 Nippon jobs in central Indiana and preserve 400 Mittal positions in East Chicago and Burns Harbor. Nippon's plan to invest $240 million at its I/N Kote facility in New Carlisle drew $4.9 million in state incentives.

"This is truly an exciting investment and one that will ensure ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel maintain our leadership position in supplying the North American automotive industry with high-quality steels," Michael Rippley, president and CEO of ArcelorMittal USA, said when the expansion was announced in April.

The trade delegation departed Monday afternoon from Indiana and plans to return Saturday. Daniels stayed behind to oversee the response to Saturday storms that brought historic flooding and disaster declarations for nearly a third of the state.