HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte announced he will lead a trade mission to South Korea and Japan, focusing on Montana’s agricultural, manufacturing, photonics and bioscience industries.
The mission, scheduled from October 19 to October 25 aims to strengthen economic ties with these key trading partners. This visit follows a similar mission to Taiwan two years ago.
Gianforte highlighted the strong bond between Montana and these nations, saying, “Montana has shared a strong bond with Japan and South Korea forged through educational exchanges, the trade of our high-quality commodities and our shared respect for history and cultural exchange.”
Montana’s trade relationship with Japan has deep roots, dating back to Ambassador Mike Mansfield’s efforts in 1982, Governor Gianforte said in a release.
Korea and Japan consistently rank among Montana’s top five trading partners, with Korea purchasing over $335 million in goods in 2024 and Japan buying over $265 million.
During the mission, Gianforte will meet with federal leadership and various partners in the region. Mako Sakaguchi, with nearly 25 years of experience, serves as the official representative to the Montana Trade Office in Japan.
AloJapan.com