Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday morning that Florida will host the 44th annual Southeast U.S./Japan (SEUS/Japan) meeting program in Orlando this coming November. Eric Silagy, President & CEO of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), will serve as Chairman of the meeting along with his Japan co-chair, Masaaki Tsuya of Bridgestone Corporation.
The SEUS/Japan Joint Meeting Program grants delegates and business leaders an opportunity to meet with top Japanese government officials. The program includes sessions on the current economic outlook in Japan and the Southeast United States, including trade, investment, and other bi-lateral topics of current interest.
“For 46 years, SEUS/Japan has worked to strengthen Florida’s economic and cultural ties with Japan, and my administration remains committed to furthering that partnership,” said DeSantis. “Florida is home to approximately 200 Japanese companies and trade between Florida and Japan surpassed $6.8 billion in 2021 as Florida’s sixth-largest trade partner. We look forward to strengthening this partnership by hosting the 44th Annual Joint Meeting here in the Sunshine State and I’m pleased to announce Eric Silagy as Chairman of the 44th meeting.”
As Florida maintains its status as the 15th largest economy in the world, SEUS/ Japan is critical to the state’s ability to diversify economic output and advance key sectors like transportation infrastructure, connectivity, cultural ties, and a multi-lingual workforce with an objective of creating a business environment that welcomes and promotes success for Japanese companies.
“Florida is well known in Japan as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and exporters of citrus fruits. The SEUS/Japan meeting is a great opportunity for Japan and Florida to strengthen ties in aerospace and life sciences industries,” said Japanese Consul General Kazuhiro Nakai, and added, “I am looking forward to celebrating our long-standing diplomatic and economic ties in Florida next year, which will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Consulate General of Japan in Miami.”
Florida also boasts a high rate of tourism by Japanese citizens, welcoming over 220,000 people on an annual basis from 2015 and 2019. The SEUS/Japan meeting offers a venue to continue promoting Florida destinations, the state’s natural resources, and invest in tourism infrastructure between Japan and Florida.
“Florida values our strong cultural and economic ties with Japan,” said Florida Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee. “With the 44th annual SEUS/Japan Joint Meeting, we look forward to strengthening our diplomatic relationship, honoring our shared values, and enhancing strong economic ties between Florida and Japan for the benefit of all Floridians.”
This is very good information. Mike Herr, City Manager of Winter Haven, Florida