JAPAN-U.S. SOUTHEAST &
SOUTHEAST U.S./JAPAN ASSOCIATIONS
35th Annual Joint Meeting
September 13 to 15, 2012
Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Joint Statement for September 15, 2012

The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association and the Southeast U.S./Japan Association held their 35th Annual Joint Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, September 13 to 15, 2012, with the theme of “In Harmony with Tradition and Innovation.” The Chairmen presiding over the meeting were the Japan Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura and the SEUS Chairman Jack O. Bovender, Jr. Approximately 350 delegates participated this year. We were honored by the presence of the SEUS state delegation leaders—the Hon. Bill Haslam, Governor, the State of Tennessee, this year’s co-host state; the Hon. Nathan Deal, Governor, the State of Georgia; the Hon. Phil Bryant, Governor, the State of Mississippi; the Hon. Bev Perdue, Governor, the State of North Carolina, the Hon. Nikki Haley, Governor, the State of South Carolina; Mr. Greg Canfield, Secretary of Commerce, the State of Alabama; Mr. Ken Detzner, Secretary of State, the State of Florida; and also by the participation of the Hon. Eiichi Kawahara, Consul General of Japan in Miami.

In the Opening Ceremony, Chairman Yonekura began the meeting by expressing his special appreciation for the extensive help and support that the U.S. has provided for Japan in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and reaffirming the significance of the ties between the United States and Japan and the strong bonds of friendship between Japan and Southeast U.S. states.

Chairman Bovender made opening remarks emphasizing the importance of three decades of personal exchange between the people of the Southeast U.S. and Japan. He expressed heartfelt concerns about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and celebrated the resilience and recovery of the nation of Japan.

Following the opening ceremony was the Plenary Keynote Address by Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Mr. Christopher J. LaFleur, Senior Advisor, McLarty Associates.

At the Luncheon Program, we were privileged to be addressed by the Hon. John V. Roos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan.

In Panel Session I that afternoon, featuring “Current Investment Opportunities in the Southeast U.S.”, Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Mr. Mark L. Williams, President, Strategic Development Group, Inc., Mr. Michael C. Fedele, General Manager, Trade Service Center, Regional Officer, Nashville Office, Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., and Mr. Eizo Kobayashi, Chairman, ITOCHU Corporation, shared their experiences in investment projects and discussed the future prospects for further investment in the Southeast U.S.

In Panel Session II, “Innovation towards Business Solution”, Mr. Yoshio Nakamura, Vice Chairman and Director General, KEIDANREN, Mr. D. Del Craig, Executive Vice President,
International Development, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Mr. Hiromichi Iwasa, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., and Mr. Katsuaki Watanabe, Senior Advisor, Toyota Motor Corporation, presented their efforts to develop innovative new products, technologies and services and reaffirmed the importance of business communities taking the initiative to accelerate innovation.

In Panel Session III, “Supply Chain and Infrastructure”, Mr. Jeremy Goldstrich, Managing Director for Ground Operations, Japan & Guam, FedEx, Mr. Daniel H. Sayre, Representative Director and President, Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Limited, Mr. George Maffeo, Vice President, Boeing International and President, Boeing Japan, Mr. Satoshi Miura, Director and Chairman of Board of Directors, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, and Mr. Hideaki Omiya, Member of the Board, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. shared their views on major issues concerning supply chain and infrastructure, including the use of ICT and development of power sources, and discussed how to exploit opportunities in the area.

Throughout our program, we exchanged views and opinions with our guest experts and delegates and deepened our understanding on the issues of mutual interest, while discussing ways to revitalize businesses and spur growth in Japan and the United States in the current challenging global economic environment. At the same time, we had the pleasure of seeing long-time friends and making new friends.

In the Closing Ceremony, the meeting was adjourned with an announcement by incoming SEUS Chairman William Yates that the 36th Annual Joint Meeting will be hosted by the state of Mississippi in 2013.

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