Doing Business in the Indo-Pacific

MITA hosted the “Doing Business in the Indo-Pacific” seminar on March 21 at the Department of Economic Development in Lincoln, NE. The audience heard Japan’s Consul-General in Chicago, Jun Yanagi, open the seminar with his observations on the close U.S.-Japan economic and security relationship, founded on Kizuna, the basis of mutual trust and friendship. JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization, was represented at the seminar by Executive Director Hiroyuki Nemoto and Yusuke Hara, who presented the latest economic and trade figures, showing the importance of U.S. and Japan trade and investment. They emphasized that Japan remains the number one partner for foreign direct investment in the United States. Kawasaki Manufacturing of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a model example of the benefits of FDI and celebrates its 50th anniversary in Nebraska in October this year. Ms. Hisami Imagawa, Nebraska’s trade representative in Tokyo, spoke of the service and assistance her office can provide companies interested in doing business in Japan. The conference concluded with DED’s Cobus Block providing an overview of the Department’s efforts to promote exports from Nebraska to international partners.