Chattanooga began “playing catch-up” with other U.S. cities during its first business development mission to Japan early this month, according to the Chamber’s chief economic developer, Jay Garner.
"It was a great trip,” said Garner, who along with Mayor Bob Corker, was part of the 18-member Tennessee delegation to Japan. “It forms a foundation on which we can build future efforts.
“The only discouraging thing is that we are far behind other cities that have been in that market since the mid-1980s.”
A veteran of more than 25 trade and business development missions to the Far East before joining the Chamber in April, Garner took part in the June 3-8 trip to Tokyo at the invitation of Gov. Sundquist.
US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker hosted a reception for the Tennessee delegation and top executives of some 100 Japanese firms at his residence.
“Status is very important in Japan,” Garner said, “and the Mayor’s presence lent stature to the visit.”
Garner and Corker also met with officials of Komatsu and NA Industries, both of which have large investments in Chattanooga.
Garner said the trip produced “preliminary prospects but nothing that is firm in the bag.”
He said the name Chattanooga is “well-received” in Japan because of the popularity of the “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” song and train.
“Now we have to take advantage of that name recognition and parlay it into business development for the city,” Garner said.