Bredesen to Conduct Asian Trade Mission 10/14/2005 Listen to audio now Governor Phil Bredesen and administration officials will travel to Japan the week of Oct. 16 to attend the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association annual meeting and to showcase Tennessee’s industry-friendly and progressive business climate to Japan’s top corporate executives. Bredesen will give opening remarks to more than 500 U.S. Southeast and Japan business leaders at the association’s annual meeting in Tokyo. “Tennessee shares a positive cultural and economic connection with Japan,” said Bredesen. “Tennessee’s participation at the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association annual meeting is extremely important. We look forward to using this experience to create new opportunities for Tennessee businesses and workers as we make our presentation to the international community.” Joining the Governor will be the following administration officials: Matthew Kisber, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), Loren Chumley, commissioner of the state Department of Revenue, Paul LaGrange, ECD assistant commissioner of business development, and John Gregory, ECD director of Asian Business Development. In addition more than 50 business executives, local elected officials and community leaders from across the state will attend the two-day meeting. “This trip gives Tennessee an opportunity to present our global strengths to leaders, business executives and educators from all over the world,” said Kisber. “Japan has become a part of the fabric of life in Tennessee, and our state is interested in continuing our positive relationship with them.” Japan is a major foreign investor in Tennessee jobs, with more than 160 Japanese operations in Tennessee, employing more than 40,000 Tennesseans through capital investments in excess of $10 billion. The Asian trade mission has become a cornerstone of the state’s economic development outreach for nearly three decades. In April, the state participated in the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan, in which a “Tennessee Week” event was hosted. Tennessee was among a select number of U.S. states that took part in the Expo, which offered the state an opportunity to enhance and build on its relationship with Japan. The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association, was established in December 1975 and promotes trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and the seven states of the southeast United States:: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Following the visit to Japan, Commissioner Kisber, LaGrange and Gregory will travel to Taiwan and Hong Kong to meet with the following companies: Chin Fong Group, Formosa Plastics, Quanta, Stamtec, SEYI Presses and Tatung Company.