On November 22, 2019, the City of San Antonio and Japan Business Federation Keidanren USA co-hosted a summit on disaster prevention and recovery in San Antonio, Texas, United States. This event attracted approximately 80 participants, including officials and staff members from the San Antonio government and local business leaders. Japanese companies with operations in the United States and a power utility company in San Antonio delivered a presentation on technologies for disaster prevention and recovery. A Chief Representative of JBIC's Representative Office in Washington, D.C., gave a presentation about JBIC's financing tools, such as loans, guarantees and equity financing. The presentation also covered JBIC's support for the State of Texas, including a Statement of Mutual Cooperation*1 signed with the state in September 2019.
Texas attracts investments from a large number of Japanese companies because of its favorable investment environment, which includes a preferential taxation system, geographical advantages, and experienced, skilled personnel in the labor market. On the other hand, Texas faces the challenge of responding to natural disasters such as hurricanes. Participants from San Antonio listened closely to the presentations of the Japanese companies about their sophisticated technology and expertise with disaster prevention and recovery. Similar events are planned to be held in other states, and Japanese companies are expected to expand their business in the disaster prevention field.
JBIC will continue to support the overseas business activities of Japanese companies by providing them with new business opportunities through the seminar.