Seating is limited. More than 150 representatives of industry, government and academia are expected to participate, said Dr. Edward Erickson, professor of economics and co-coordinator of the conference. The conference is timely. The trade and investment relationship between North Carolina and Japan is strong. Tobacco and tobacco products continue to rank high among export commodities, and pork and poultry products are showing significant gains.
Japan also is a potential market for high-tech products, furniture, lumber, soy, and feed products.
More than 18,000 North Carolinians are employed at 170 Japanese-owned companies across the state. Japanese companies are an important component of the high-tech backbone of North Carolina industry and agribusiness, Erickson said. The N.C. Japan Center was established by Gov. James B. Hunt in 1980 to strengthen economic, academic, scientific and cultural ties between Japan and North Carolina. The center supports NC State's Japanese Language Program, the largest at any Southeast university. Currently, six students are on a yearlong exchange at Nagoya University.