Governor Matt Bevin is visiting Japan and the Republic of Korea this week to strengthen ties and encourage additional job creation and investment in Kentucky.
According to a release, Governor Bevin attended the National Governors Association (NGA) U.S. – Japan Governors Forum in Tokyo, meeting with Japanese officials and business leaders to discuss workforce development, business innovation, and economic growth.
State officials say Japan is the Commonwealth’s number one foreign director investor, with nearly 200 facilities in the state operating by Japanese-owned companies. Kentucky ranks second nationally in the percentage of jobs supported by Japanese foreign direct investment. Japanese-owned companies employ approximately 45,000 Kentuckians and, during the Bevin Administration to date, Japanese-owned companies have announced nearly $3 billion in new investment and a corresponding 4,000 jobs for the state.
On Wednesday, Governor Bevin will travel to Seoul for a trade mission with Kentucky’s Cabinet Economic Development executive director to meet with Korean business executives, trade and industry associations and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris.
State officials say five businesses with roots in the Republic of Korea currently operate or are building a total of six facilities in Kentucky, employing nearly 400 Kentuckians with an additional 200 jobs pledged.
This year through June, officials indicate Kentucky exported approximately $227 million in products and services to the Republic of Korea.
Through June, the state has exported approximately $16 billion in goods to all countries and ranks fifth in the U.S. for exports per capita.
