In October, more than 45 Georgia delegates traveled to Tokyo, Japan to attend the 41st Annual SEUS-Japan Conference. Created in 1976 by former Georgia Governor George Busbee, this annual gathering brings together prominent business leaders, communities and government dignitaries to celebrate the longstanding partnership between the Southeast United States and Japan.

The SEUS-Japan alliance aims to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and the southeastern U.S. The Southeast U.S.-Japan Association member states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee who work in coordination with their Japanese counterpart, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association.

The annual conference between the two associations is held on a rotational basis in Japan and the southeastern U.S. with each of the seven states serving as host and co-host state for a two-year term. This year’s SEUS-Japan conference in Tokyo concluded with the announcement that Georgia will host the 42nd SEUS-Japan conference in Savannah, Georgia, October 20-23, 2019. Georgia will serve as co-host for the event when it returns to Japan in 2020.

Stepping into the role of co-chairman for the Southeast U.S./Japan Association and Japan-U.S. Southeast Association is Virgil Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Aflac, U.S.; and President, Aflac Group, the insurance giant headquartered in Columbus, Georgia. Aflac has been active in the Japanese market for more than 45 years and is one of the major insurance providers in Japan today. Mr. Miller will serve alongside Mr. Teruo Asada, Chairman of the Board for Marubeni Corporation and co-chairman for the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association and Southeast U.S./Japan Association.

GDEcD Commissioner, Pat Wilson, served as Georgia’s Head of Delegation for the recent SEUS-Japan conference joining government leaders and economic developers from across the state as well as representatives from Georgia’s Japanese business community.

This year’s theme “Success Through Tradition, Innovation and Partnerships” served as a springboard for presentations on new economic trends impacting Japan and the Southeast U.S. and opportunities for partnership in trade and investment. The conference’s panel discussions featured high-level executives from both Japan and the U.S. addressing topics like the impact of technology and digital transformation on regional economies and prospects for cooperation between Japan and the Southeast U.S. in advanced manufacturing, infrastructure and energy.

Distinguished speakers from both countries addressed the deep economic and diplomatic ties that strengthen the Japan-Southeast U.S. relationship. Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of working together to maintain close trade and investment relations.

Georgia’s trade and investment relationship with Japan has a long history going back more than 40 years when Georgia established its first representative office in Tokyo in 1973. Since then Georgia has assisted hundreds of Japanese firms in locating to Georgia. Japan remains a leading investor nation in the state with more than 500 Japanese facilities across the state employing nearly 30,000 Georgians.