Message from Secretary Hitt: S.C.'s economic ties with Japan

South Carolina has a longstanding relationship with Japan, as our two economies are highly-integrated via trade in goods and services. In fact, since 2011, Japanese-owned firms have announced more than $3.5 billion in capital investment in South Carolina, bringing approximately 3,600 new jobs to our state.
 
Team S.C. recognizes the importance of our economic partnership with Japan, and this week, that strong relationship was on display at the 42nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan (SEUS-Japan) and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations held in Savannah, Ga. 
 
Aimed at promoting mutual ties of investment, trade education, tourism and friendly relations between Japan and the southeastern United States, the SEUS-Japan Association is comprised of seven member states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
 
With the S.C. delegation led by Governor McMaster, the gathering of global business leaders celebrates longstanding economic and cultural ties and offers representatives from Japan and the seven southeastern U.S. member states unparalleled opportunities to forge new relationships. 
 
Moving forward, Team S.C. is committed to building new and strengthening existing partnerships with Japan and with all of our international partners.