Date and Time
Friday, August 16, 2024
9–10:30 a.m. MST
Location
Lobby Training Room
World Trade Center at City Creek
Indo-Pacific innovation
Ahead of next month's trade mission to Japan, we welcomed Consul General Mikami Yoichi for a Crossroads of the World breakfast last Friday. “I strongly believe the visit of Governor Cox and his delegation will strengthen the relationship between Utah and Japan," the consul general said in his remarks.
We also heard from Akira Kajita, Chief Executive Director of the Japan External Trade Organization's Los Angeles office, who provided insights about Japan's economy and business climate. Here's what we liked:
Japan ranks 4th in the world on R&D expenditures and 1st in the world on patent applications.
Japan's government is advancing a mission-oriented economic and industrial policy, with goals including carbon neutrality by 2050, digital society development, healthcare innovation, disaster resilience, biomanufacturing advancements.
Japan is actively encouraging highly skilled foreign professionals and entrepreneurs to come to the country by offering favorable visa and residency options, including a start-up visa program for entrepreneurs looking to establish businesses in Japan.
For Utah companies in the life sciences, manufacturing, innovation, and defense sectors, Japan might just present the perfect environment for your next global venture.
This event was hosted in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Salt Lake Chamber.
Consul General Mikami Yoichi
Mikami Yoichi assumed the position of Consul-General of Japan in Denver in October, and arrived in Denver on November 16, 2021.
Consul-General MIKAMI joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. This is the third time he has been assigned to a diplomatic service in the United States, previously serving at the Consulate-General of Japan in New York and the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. He has served at the Embassy of Japan in Tel-Aviv twice, and the Embassy of Japan in Ankara where he worked before moving to Denver. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, he worked in the Fourth Division of the Intelligence and Analysis Service, First Middle East Division, and Exchange Programs Division, among other posts.
He speaks English and Hebrew, and is married with one child.
Crossroads of the World
Join us as we bring together global influencers at our in-person roundtable discussions with top government and business leaders from around the world. Be a part of meaningful conversations and make valuable connections that will expand your perspective and knowledge of the global marketplace. These roundtables are designed for the ambitious and forward-thinking individual who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the world of international trade.
In partnership with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Salt Lake Chamber.
