Florida traces back its trade ties to Japan as far back as the mid-19th century when the first shipment of home-grown grapefruits was exported across the Pacific. More than a century later, bilateral ties have expanded into finance, life sciences, advanced technology, and aeronautics and space exploration.
Japan’s Consul General in Miami Kazuhiro Nakai pointed out that while his country remains one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in the state, particularly in Miami, it wants to revive bilateral business, which suffered because of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.
As part of his mission, Nakai also organizes meetings and get-togethers between government officials, business leaders, as well as state and regional economic development organizations from neighboring states like, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The state’s leading economic development organization, Enterprise Florida works to create new investment opportunities in the state by implementing business-friendly policies, generating better-paying jobs, supporting skills training, and helping businesses become globally competitive.
Japan, according to Nakai, see potential areas for closer cooperation, one of which is space technology and exploration.
“NASA took a very bold step in privatizing its lower-end space program, which is responsible for the launching rockets and managing satellites,” said Nakai, who highlighted Japan’s reputation for managing one of the world’s most sophisticated advanced space technologies.
Because of the John F. Kennedy Space Center’s presence in the state, Florida is the most important center for space technology and space travel in the country and the world.
“(Florida) is one of the important hubs of the space business. There are several growing space businesses going on in cooperation with the state, local governments, and universities, like the aerospace economic development agency, Space Florida,” Nakai said.
