Japanese Delegation visits Savannah, Georgia

SAVANNAH, GA, USA – On July 28, World Trade Center Savannah welcomed a group of Japanese delegates for a round-table discussion, “Why Trade Matters with Japan: Georgia and the Impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.” Japanese delegates included Takashi Shinozuka, Consul General to the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, Ryuichi Funatsu, Counselor, Economic Section, Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC, Norikazu Mori, Chief Executive Director, Japan External Trade Organization and Naomi Takahashi, Consul of the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta. The delegates spoke to an exclusive group of WTC Savannah partners about how free trade policies help Georgia businesses export billions of dollars every year in pulp, paper, motor vehicles, planes and aircraft parts, crops and chemicals to help support US economic and job growth.

Georgia and Japan have long-standing relations, which can be attributed to large amounts of Japanese investment into Georgia. There are currently 17 companies with Japanese headquarters located in the coastal Georgia region, one of which is Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. (MHPSA). MHPSA is a subsidiary of the conglomerate, Mitsubishi Motors, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and is the largest foreign direct investment project to land in the region recently. In 2015, Japan was also the fifth largest export market for the district of Savannah and fourth among import nations. 

In addition to the round-table discussion, the group met with leadership at Georgia Ports Authority for a presentation and tour of the Port of Savannah. The delegation also visited with Japanese businesses in the region. 

PHOTO (L-R): Congressman Buddy Carter, US Representative Serving Georgia's 1st District, James Coughlin, Executive Director, Camden County Joint Development Authority, Consul General Takashi Shinozuka, Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, Mel Baxter, Executive Director, Brunswick-Glynn County Development Authority

For additional information, please contact Kathleen Henry, Manager of Trade Services and Research at WTC Savannah, at khenry@wtcsavannah.org.