North Carolina Strengthens Economic Partnership with Japan at the 2026 SEUS/Japan Annual Meeting

On behalf of Governor Josh Stein, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley joined state and business leaders from across the Southeast and Japan in Nashville, Tennessee, for the 48th Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS/Japan) and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association. Secretary Lilley spoke at the October 25–27 conference’s opening ceremony and welcomed members of North Carolina’s delegation at a pre-conference reception, highlighting the state’s longstanding relationship with Japan and its commitment to expanding economic opportunities through international partnerships. 

“North Carolina’s relationship with Japan is an important part of our state’s economic success, with Japanese companies creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, investing in our communities, and strengthening industries key to our future,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We will continue developing this relationship and supporting the growth of businesses and good-paying jobs in North Carolina.”

North Carolina’s longstanding partnership with Japan is reflected in the more than 180 Japanese-owned companies operating across the state, spanning industries from advanced manufacturing to life sciences.  

“North Carolina’s strong economic relationship with Japan reflects decades of collaboration, investment, and innovation,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “We’re focused on building on that foundation through our First in Opportunity Strategic Economic Development Plan and continuing to create opportunities for businesses and workers across our state.”

Japan is North Carolina’s leading source of foreign direct investment, accounting for more than 40% of foreign investment in the state. Since 2015, Japanese companies have committed to creating more than 11,000 jobs and nearly $20.1 billion in capital investment in North Carolina. More than 30,000 North Carolinians work at Japanese-owned companies operating statewide. 

Secretary Lilley met with leaders from FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, Toyota Motor North America, GE Vernova Hitachi, Hitachi Energy, and Bridgestone Corporation’s new Global CEO Yasuhiro Morita to discuss the continued partnership and each company’s facilities in the state. 

To underscore the strong and enduring partnership between Japan and North Carolina, Secretary Lilley also met with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chairman Norihiko Ishiguro and other JETRO leaders. 

“Japanese companies have established a strong presence in North Carolina, with investments spanning advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and financial services,” said Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. “We look forward to strengthening those relationships and helping more Japanese companies discover the advantages of doing business in North Carolina."

North Carolina continues to invest in the fundamentals that support long-term economic growth through the state’s First in Opportunity Strategic Economic Development Plan. The plan focuses on modernizing infrastructure, strengthening innovation ecosystems, enhancing community well-being, and building a future-ready workforce. 

North Carolina is a founding member of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association, created in 1976 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and seven member states in the southeastern United States. North Carolina’s membership is intended to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japanese companies, as well as strengthen export ties for North Carolina companies selling goods in Japan. In 1978, North Carolina opened its first business office in Tokyo, where it has operated continuously for nearly half a century. 

Member states of SEUS/Japan are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Japanese counterpart, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association, is currently led by the Bridgestone Corporation, which has operated facilities in North Carolina for more than 50 years. The Japanese organization's membership includes Japan's top business leaders and government officials. The annual conference between the two associations is officially known as the Annual Joint Meeting and is held on a rotational basis in Japan and the states of the Southeast. 

In 2024, North Carolina welcomed then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan to the North Carolina Executive Mansion for the first such visit by a foreign head of state in North Carolina’s recorded history. Later that year, North Carolina hosted the SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting in Charlotte, welcoming more than 500 attendees and continuing its longstanding leadership in the partnership. The 2025 meeting took place in Tokyo, where North Carolina formally handed off its leadership of the annual meeting to Tennessee. This year’s meeting in Nashville continues the partnership’s work to strengthen economic ties and expand opportunities for collaboration between Japan and the southeastern United States. 

The North Carolina Department of Commerce works to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians by supporting economic, community, and workforce development. The department helps businesses locate and expand in North Carolina, supports communities across the state, and connects employers and workers with the resources they need to succeed.