60 businesses, officials taking 12-day trade mission to Japan

Miami-Dade County is sending some 60 officials and company representatives on a 12-day trade mission to Japan. Co-leaders for the “Americas Linkage to Japan” expedition Nov. 25-Dec. 6 are county Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Kazuhiro Nakai, Japan’s consul general in Miami, is hosting the trip. County officials expected to make the trip include County Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert III, County Aviation Director Ralph Cutié, and representatives from PortMiami and the Beacon Council.

While the list of company representatives was fixed by Monday, according to Susan J. Snyder, chamber vice president of communications, county and city officials making the trip were still being finalized.

County commissioners expected to join the mission include Micky Steinberg, Juan Carlos Bermudez and Roberto Gonzalez.

The purpose of the excursion, Ms. Snyder told Miami Today, is to explore innovations, share strategies and establish business connections in export/import trade; technology, innovations and entrepreneurship; waste management; sustainability and resilience; urban density and workforce housing; mobility; tourism; and healthcare and pharma.

Among representatives is Alice Bravo & Associates, which is active in transportation planning and design. Ms. Bravo is a former transportation director for the county. Members of the group are expected to visit one or more manufacturers of railway equipment in planning for the county’s Smart Plan for rapid transit expansion.

Also on the mission is Covanta Dade Renewable Energy, which operated the now-closed county Resource Recovery Facility in Doral. The county is now seeking new locations for and methods of waste disposal that would handle the materials that the recovery facility once processed.

Other group members represent Altura Capital; The Asian-American Advisory Board; American Airlines; Aviation Strategies & Trade Solutions Inc.; BDO USA; legal and business strategists Becker & Poliakoff P.A.; CareerSource South Florida; and CMS International Group, the largest minority-owned glazing contractor in South Florida.

Also on the mission are the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida; Interamerican Alliance LLC; World Travel Expo Miami; Jacobs Engineering; MCO Construction and Services Inc.; SSP America (food travel); Star-H Corp.

(cognitive radio systems); TECO Energy Inc., an electric utility serving Florida’s central West Coast; TIC Aerospace Inc., an FAA certified repair station; and Wisk Aero, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in electric, self-flying eVTOL air taxis.

The mission is to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. During her visit to Tokyo, Mayor Levine Cava will meet with Gov. Yuriko Koike.

“This trade mission to Japan signifies our commitment to fostering stronger connections between Miami and Japan,” said Alfred Sanchez, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. “We believe that by nurturing trade relations and encouraging business development, we can unlock the full potential of both regions, ultimately leading to mutual prosperity and growth.”