Photo caption: Idaho team members join Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji City, Tokyo at a welcome event in Japan. Pictured left to right: Celia Gould, Director, Idaho Department of Agriculture; Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, Director, Idaho Department of Commerce; Kelly Anthon, Idaho Senator/City of Rupert Administrator; Mayor Ishimori; Jan Rogers, CEO, Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho; and Dr. Marc Skinner, Executive Officer, University of Idaho’s Eastern region.
University of Idaho, Idaho Senator/City of Rupert Administrator Kelly Anthon, Idaho Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, and REDI complete six-day visit to Japan to promote foreign direct investment in Idaho.
Idaho Falls, ID — Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho (REDI) CEO Jan Rogers reported significant success from the Idaho team that just returned from a foreign direct investment trip to Japan April 13-18.
“Reciprocity is an important part of Japanese culture. With Eastern Idaho’s new and growing relationship with Sakae Casting and Ohzen’s operations in Idaho Falls, this Japan trip was a great opportunity for us to build on our Japanese partnerships and expand Idaho’s connections in Japan,” Rogers said. “We put Idaho on the radar for Japanese businesses considering investing in the U.S. In fact, several companies are already planning to visit Idaho this summer. It was a very successful visit,” she said.
The trip, coordinated by REDI, was joined by the University of Idaho, Idaho Senator and City of Rupert administrator Kelly Anthon, and Idaho Departments of Commerce and Agriculture.
Select Idaho team members met with government and commerce officials, vice governors, mayors, university president and leaders, chamber of commerce representatives, and numerous industries representing nuclear energy, research, food production and processing, and manufacturing.
At a business exchange meeting in Hachioji City, several organizations and nine companies discussed possible opportunities for their businesses in Eastern Idaho and Idaho.
There was also a visit to Tokai mura’s Sister City Center, Idaho Falls’ Sister City in Japan.
Dr. Marc Skinner, Executive Officer, University of Idaho’s Eastern region:
“It was an honor to represent the University of Idaho on this successful trip. The University of Idaho’s Idaho Falls Center is thrilled with the relationship developed over the past year with Japan’s Sakae Casting. UI Nuclear Engineering Professors Bob Borrelli and Rich Christensen are currently working collaboratively with Boise State University and Sakae Casting’s team on a state funded IGEM project focused on development of an aluminum cast with embedded natural boron for cooling nuclear fuel. We believe our current project with Sakae Casting is just the beginning of future collaborative work with innovative business and education entities in Japan.”
Kelly Anthon, Idaho Senator and City of Rupert Administrator:
“I have always believed that as Idaho’s economy grows and diversifies, there will be more opportunities for Idaho families by building relationships with overseas businesses. Our meetings in Japan not only presented opportunities to grow Idaho business but to promote my home community’s agriculture industry. I look forward to the future opportunities for Idaho that may result from this successful trip abroad.”
Kouki Kashiwada, Assistant Director, Hachioji City-Japan: (via translation)
“Idaho is good as a business environment. We have a population reduction and the Japanese market is shrinking. Some businesses seek to expand in the United States. We must look at Idaho.”
