JETRO New York President, Issei Hatakeyama attends Rhode Island Lt. Governor Dan McKee’s press conference on launching the International Economic Ambassadors Initiative

Nov 25, 2019

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PROVIDENCE, RI - On November 20th, Rhode Island Lt. Governor Dan McKee held a press conference on launching the International Economic Ambassadors Initiative, which Issei Hatakeyama was invited to attend. Joining the Lt. Governor were community leaders in Rhode Island, such as Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council President Dr. Robert Billington, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Douglas Yu-Tein Hsu, and Japan American Society of Rhode Island Board Member, Maryanne Brandmeier.  

Also, many dignitaries, leaders of economic development organizations, and local companies within the Rhode Island community attended this launch event to increase the global visibility of the State of Rhode Island.

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JETRO New York President Issei Hatakeyama and Lt. Governor
Dan McKee.


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Lt. Governor Dan McKee giving a speech at the conference.


This initiative aims to engage local residents that have global ties to market and promote Rhode Island’s economic assets. Local residents have the opportunity to apply as voluntary ambassadors to which they directly provide guidance to the Lt. Governor’s office regarding potential businesses that are considering an expansion of their operations in the State.


At the press conference, Lt. Governor McKee said, “My team’s job is to equip ambassadors with the information, materials and authority to highlight Rhode Island in a positive and meaningful way”. Blackstone Valley Tourism Council President Dr. Robert Billington also mentioned, “International Economic Ambassadors are an innovative, no-cost tool that will allow Rhode Island to create new avenues for economic opportunity”.


Prior to this event, on October 31st, Issei Hatakeyama met with Lt. Governor Dan McKee, along with Consul General Setsuo Ohmori from the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston to discuss bilateral relationships between Japan and US, detailing the involvement of JETRO with State officials and how Japanese companies have contributed to the US economy in terms of consistent investment and job growth which have reached record levels as of 2016.


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(From left) Consul of Consulate General of Japan in Boston
Makoto Furue, JETRO New York President Issei Hatakeyama, Lt.
Governor Dan McKee, Consul General Setsuo Ohmori, and Daiki
Nakajima Project Manager.


This meeting essentially opened the door for JETRO to support the International Economic Ambassadors Initiative for the State of Rhode Island, working alongside the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston, which oversees the Northeast States.


For more information on the International Economic Ambassadors Initiative, you can read Lt. Governor Dan McKee’s press release here.