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Last night, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) successfully culminated its Americas Linkage mission to Japan, co-led by the Chamber, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, Oliver Gilbert, III. The 50-person delegation of representatives from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami-Dade County, and the business sector, came back home with a new agreement with the Port of Yokohama, transformative lessons from Japan’s solid waste management systems, and a promising commitment from Japan Airlines (JAL) to consider a direct flight to Miami by 2025.
“The Chamber’s Americas Linkage program is designed for companies that conduct or aspire to conduct international business aiming at new market opportunities in an increasingly competitive global economy,” says GMCC President & CEO Alfred Sanchez, “This was one of the largest and most successful delegations we have taken abroad, allowing us meet with an unprecedented number of companies and government entities. ”
Between November 27th and December 6th, the delegation visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Yokohama to meet with Japanese business leaders, government representatives and investors to strengthen our commercial and tourism ties with Japan, open new markets for Miami-Dade County companies and products, and learn about new innovative solutions and best practices in key areas such as transportation, waste management, and resilience.
“We went on a mission to promote Miami-Dade as a business and tourism destination for Japanese businesses, investors and travelers, and to accelerate new opportunities for economic growth and investment in Miami-Dade. I’m glad to report that we accomplished those goals,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We come back fully inspired and optimistic for the new relationships our regions are forging. This mission has opened new doors to grow our commercial and cultural exchange, and has opened our eyes to what the future of our solid waste and transit systems could be by investing in innovation and committing to sustainability.”
Japan has long been recognized as one of South Florida’s key trading partners, with significant potential for growth across various sectors. Japan is Florida’s second largest bilateral merchandise trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, and over 30% of Japanese companies in Florida are based in Miami-Dade. Our strategic location and robust financial services sector make Miami-Dade an ideal destination for Japanese foreign investment and travelers.
“Japan has grappled with issues like housing and population growth in urban areas, similar to what Miami-Dade County has been facing, and this mission gave us a unique opportunity to look into the future and see innovative solutions being implemented in real time,” said Oliver Gilbert, III, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “I admire Japan’s innovative transportation system and how they integrate it with land use and commerce. We are inspired to get back to work and, with fresh eyes and new knowledge, address the issues that affect our community the most.”
The main outcomes of the mission include:
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PortMiami and Port of Yokohama.
• Met with the Governor of Tokyo, the Honorable Yuriko Koike, to discuss ways to increase tourism, tech and trade; and with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism International (MLIT) to discuss transportation initiatives.
• Met with top executives of Japan Airlines (JAL) to promote a direct air route service Tokyo–Miami.
• Met with investors and companies interested in expanding their global footprint by entering Miami such as Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and SOMPO International (global provider of property and casualty insurance/reinsurance).
• Learned about the significance of the “Chesapeake Route”, the only route to the Eastern US from Japan via PortMiami which holds immense potential for trade growth and learning exchange.
• Learned about Japan’s innovative and sustainable solutions for Miami-Dade’s solid waste. management system after visiting Sakura Environmental Center and Suginami Incineration Plant
• Visited Mitsubishi and Hitashi to talk about innovative and sustainable solutions for transportation, such as battery-operated trains that provide a more cost-effective solution to rail expansion.
• Witnessed the announcement of the US/Japan 2024 Tourism year ceremony.
• Met with American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) to promote more student exchanges and internships, and outreach to US-based Japanese media.
• Committed to participate in the 2025 World Expo pavilion in Japan.
About the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is the proud champion for the Greater Miami Business Community and serves as a catalyst for solutions to the problems that businesses face. Founded in 1907 as the Miami Board of Trade, today’s Chamber represents more than 400,000-member company employees and is heralded for its legacy of leadership in economic development, and its unwavering commitment to improving the Miami-Dade community. Our members drive a business agenda at the federal, state and local levels. We are dedicated to building the best environment for business in the Americas and committed to improving the economic vitality of South Florida. Our advocacy efforts are focused on four main priority areas: Transportation, Workforce Housing, Workforce Development & Education, and Resilience. For more information, please visit www.miamichamber.com.
