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Japanese and Colorado business leaders will come together March 11 to celebrate business and cultural ties at the Japan-Colorado Business Seminar, presented by the Leeds School of Business in partnership with the Denver Consulate-General of Japan. 

“Japan and Colorado have a long history of mutually beneficial business investment and trade. We hope that this event will enhance existing relationships and create opportunities for new ones,” said Richard Wobbekind, associate dean for business and government relations at Leeds and faculty director of the Business Research Division.

Vijay Khatri, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of Leeds School of Business, will deliver opening remarks along with Yoichi Mikami, Consul-General, Consulate-General of Japan in Denver. The seminar will be held in the CASE auditorium from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Partners in business

Japan is Colorado’s sixth largest trading partner and a major export destination for the state’s food, such as beef and other agricultural products, computer and electronics equipment, chemicals, and machinery, including instruments and medical equipment.

As of January 2023, 83 Japanese or Japan-based companies have operations in Colorado, including branch offices of major Japanese companies. Many Colorado companies operate in Japan as well, including CoorsTek and GSSG Solar.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and other economic development organizations throughout Colorado promote trade and investment with Japan.

In March 2023, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis led a trade delegation made up of 23 members of the OEDIT, meeting potential investors to drum up interest in the state’s aerospace, green technology and research sectors.

Helping business leaders connect is a nonstop United Airlines flight between Denver International Airport and Narita International in Japan, which has operated since 2013. The route was paused during the pandemic but returned to service in March 2023.

The Japan-Colorado Business Seminar will feature a presentation by Akira Kajita, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization, known as JETRO. 

Following the presentation, Khatri will moderate a panel discussion. Panelists include Jonathan Coors, CEO of CoorsTek; Elise Hamann, global business development manager of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade; Keita Yasuda, vice president of strategic planning for Panasonic’s Smart Mobility business; Gregory P. Hanes, CEO of Cattlemen's Beef Board, Takahiro "Taka" Fukuo, senior business development analyst of Terumo BCT; and Akira Kajita, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization. An audience Q&A will follow.