19th Annual International State of the State Keynote in Arizona
2024/4/15
On Mar. 28, Consul General Sone attended the 19th Annual International State of the State Keynote delivered by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and joined the stage as a panel speaker along with Governor Hobbs, Zaib Shaikh, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, and Sophie Hottat, Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles. The event gathered together representatives from over 20 countries, state and local officials, and other industry leaders.
During her remarks, Governor Katie Hobbs discussed how Arizona is becoming an epicenter for American manufacturing, especially in the semiconductor industry. She emphasized the importance of international partnership and collaboration to Arizona’s success in manufacturing and mentioned how a growing relationship with Japan will further Arizona’s high tech economy.
In the following panel discussion, Consul General Sone highlighted Japan’s strong economic and cultural ties with Arizona, including Phoenix and Himeji’s long-standing sister city relationship since 1976, the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, and the 70+ member Japanese delegation that visited Arizona in February 2024. He mentioned how Japanese companies can play a vital role in the semiconductor supply chain growing in Arizona and looked forward to increasing Japanese investment in Arizona as well as Arizona investment in Japan.
During her remarks, Governor Katie Hobbs discussed how Arizona is becoming an epicenter for American manufacturing, especially in the semiconductor industry. She emphasized the importance of international partnership and collaboration to Arizona’s success in manufacturing and mentioned how a growing relationship with Japan will further Arizona’s high tech economy.
In the following panel discussion, Consul General Sone highlighted Japan’s strong economic and cultural ties with Arizona, including Phoenix and Himeji’s long-standing sister city relationship since 1976, the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, and the 70+ member Japanese delegation that visited Arizona in February 2024. He mentioned how Japanese companies can play a vital role in the semiconductor supply chain growing in Arizona and looked forward to increasing Japanese investment in Arizona as well as Arizona investment in Japan.
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| Group photo of speakers |
Consul General Sone and Governor Katie Hobbs |
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| Luke Wenz, President of Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (left) and Consul General Sone (right) |