TOKYO: Five-person Japanese delegation here to spread the word about their country and forge a closer relationship with Texas.
“It’s never been more important to maintain and strengthen the alliance between the United States and Japan,” said Saito, Japan’s former ambassador to France, Russia and Saudi Arabia and consul-general in Atlanta.
The visit comes amid the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan postwar alliance and efforts by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to improve the profile of the beleaguered Japanese economy, which has seen six recessions in two decades.
Abe launched the “Walk in America, Talk on Japan” project a year ago to promote the country and his openness to increased trade and investment. “Abenomics” — his aggressive economic stimulus plan — helped Japan emerge from recession late last year, but growth still is slow.
The Japanese delegation to Texas — two former government officials, a college student, a former Toyota worker and a junior college teacher — are speaking about topics including Japanese economics, culture, technology and the Asia Pacific region.
This week in Texas, the delegation met with state and local government and business leaders in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, including Deputy Secretary of State Coby Shorter. Dallas was not a stop due to scheduling conflicts, but another Japanese team visited the city in November.
“The future for our relations is quite positive,” Saito said. Japan would like to expand its already close trade and investment ties with Texas, he said.
The Texas governor’s office says Japanese projects total more than $19 billion in investments statewide since 2003. Such investments are accelerating: More than 300 Japanese companies have operations in Texas, up 30 percent in the last 18 months, Saito said.
Japan’s $6.35 billion in goods shipped to Texas last year made it the state’s No. 9 source of imports. Saito said Japan hopes to export more rice, fruit and Kobe beef here.
