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East Asia Economic Mission Trip Daily Recap - 10.16.23

10/16/2023

Governor Murphy Reaffirms Sister State Agreement With Fukui Prefecture, Showcases New Jersey To Japanese Business Leaders, and Announces New Jobs Coming To The State

Tokyo, Japan – Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation had an action-packed day, announcing new jobs, reaffirming the Sister State Agreement between Fukui Prefecture and New Jersey, and participating in a series of meetings with key Japanese business leaders.

Photo: Governor Murphy and Japanese Lieutenant Governor Mr. Yasuhiro Nakamura are signing an agreement

Governor Phil Murphy Reaffirmed Sister State Agreement Between Fukui Prefecture, Japan, and the State of New Jersey

Governor Murphy, joined by Fukui Prefecture Lieutenant Governor Mr. Yasuhiro Nakamura (中村保博副知事), signed a Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming the proud partnership the people of New Jersey have shared with Fukui for more than three decades. The agreement promotes continued cooperation in the areas of education, culture, and economy. The initial agreement signed in 1990 was based on the meeting between Kusakabe Taro and William Elliot Griffis at Rutgers College more than 100 years prior. Taro was the first Japanese student to attend Rutgers in 1870, and Griffis, his friend and tutor, helped work to advance the relationship between the United States and Japan. “With the signing of today’s Memorandum of Understanding, we are going to continue building upon our partnership for the next 150 years,” said Governor Murphy. “We are going to create new economic opportunities for investment and trade across continents—and put our innovators and workers at the forefront of building our future.”

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Photo: Governor Murphy and Japan colleagues are showing signed agreement between Rutgers University, RWJBarnabas Health, and Hiroshima University

Governor Murphy and CMIC Announce Creation of new jobs in New Jersey; CMIC and Rutgers University Join Forces to Advance Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Excellence

Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, along with several members of the New Jersey delegation, participated in a Memorandum of Understanding signing between Rutgers University’s School of Engineering and CMIC, a subsidiary of Japan's top contract research organization, to launch a new advanced research initiative and create good-paying jobs in the industries of the future. CMIC announced that they intend to double the amount of jobs at their newly acquired facility in Cranbury, and Rutgers University announced the opening of a newly created Center of Excellence in Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, which will be within the Rutgers School of Engineering’s Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems (C-SOPS). In addition, Rutgers’ C-SPOCS’s newly created Center of Excellence in Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing will be taking space in CMIC’s Cranbury facility.

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Photo: Governor Murphy, first Lady and Japan colleagues are sitting by the table and discussing an agreement

Governor Murphy Meets with Sony Group CEO Kenichiro Yoshida

Governor Murphy sat down with Sony Group Chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida to express his appreciation for their current operations in New Jersey. Sony Music Entertainment is located in Rutherford.

Photo: Governor Murphy and first Lady are standing for a picture

Governor Murphy, Choose New Jersey, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority make the Case for New Jersey’s Innovation Economy

Governor Murphy, Wes Matthews, and Tim Sullivan made the case to Japanese business leaders that there is no state in North America better positioned to strengthen economic ties with Japanese companies than New Jersey at a SelectUSA Roundtable. Remarks were also given by a representative from GCM Grosvenor and Director of Japan/Micronesia for United Airlines Kenichi Kiriyama. The event was attended by Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, Japanese business leaders, and the New Jersey delegation, including elected officials and industry and academic leaders. 

Photo: Governor Murphy is giving a speech

Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Delegation Pitches New Jersey as Global Hub for Technology and Life Sciences at JETRO-hosted seminar

Governor Murphy and the New Jersey delegation participated in a business seminar, hosted by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a Japanese government-related organization that promotes mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between Japan and the rest of the world. The meeting focused on New Jersey as a global hub for technology and life sciences. JETRO Chairman Norihiko Ishiguro gave opening remarks, and Governor Murphy spoke about New Jersey’s advantages, along with Wes Mathews and Tim Sullivan. Remarks were also given by Takeshi Hamaura, Corporate Director and Division Director of CDMO Business, and Li Wang, Director of Business Development at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Satoshi Miura, Chief Executive Director of JETRO New York, was also in attendance.

Photo: a conference where people are giving a speech

Governor Murphy Visits the Japanese HQ of Prudential Financial, Inc.

The Governor paid a visit to the Japanese HQ of Prudential Financial, where they met with Motofusa Hamada, the CEO of Japanese Insurance Operations at Prudential. Governor Murphy expressed New Jersey’s appreciation and support for Prudential, which has had its U.S. headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, for more than 145 years. 

Please visit choosenj.com/EastAsiaMission to learn more and follow coverage of the historic Governor-led economic mission to East Asia.

Members of the media may access photos from the trip here, courtesy of Kevin Sanders at the New Jersey Globe.