Kobe is also striving to become a base for foreign companies doing business in Japan. The city is undertaking extreme efforts to build the infrastructure to make it comfortable for foreigners to live and work there. With its western-style housing, schools, daycare and other amenities, The Rokko Island development project is designed specifically to meet the needs of international businesses and their employees. This was found to be the case earlier by the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association. This is not to say that there are no new avenues to explore.
Opportunities are still available.
The following are suggested ideas for development. An effort to link the strategic position of Kobe as a center for Japan's fashion industry with Seattle's fashion and sports apparel industry would seem to be the most advantageous opportunity. Regional fashion shows, displays and trade missions could be explored. There is a growing market for outdoor activity products, i.e., sporting attire, camping equipment, outdoor wear, etc. This is an industry that Seattle is known for and has a leading competitive edge in Japan.