Kentucky has become a preferred destination for Japanese investors, attracting more than 200 Japanese-owned businesses that have collectively generated around 47,000 jobs as of this year.
Last July, Gov. Andy Beshear led an economic development mission to Japan to demonstrate his state’s commitment to strengthening this partnership.
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Kentucky exported $40.2 billion worth of goods worldwide in 2023, with Japan accounting for $1.5 billion of those products.
Japan and Kentucky have enjoyed a fruitful economic partnership, which began 40 years ago when Toyota built its first U.S. factory in Georgetown. Since then, several more Japanese companies have followed suit, including Hitachi, Komatsu, Yokohama and Sumitomo.
To revitalize its long-standing economic partnerships, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development launched the “New Kentucky Home” campaign, an initiative to attract more investors, world-class workers and their families.
“Kentucky is open for business. We’re doing everything we can to be a leader in economic growth, job creation and innovation,” said Beshear, who in 2023 signed a memorandum of agreement to deepen trade, cultural and social ties with Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura.
Through its New Kentucky Home campaign, the Bluegrass state celebrates mutual trust, successful partnerships and shared prosperity with one of its most reliable partners: Japan.