Officials from the North Eastern Strategic Alliance will be joining state Sens. Hugh Leatherman of Florence and Yancey McGill of Kingstree for an economic development trip to Japan and China this month.
NESA is a regional economic development organization that serves nine counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg.
The trip will center around the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association Conference.
NESA officials said the first part of their trip will be based out of Tokyo, Japan, while the second leg of the trip will take place in Beijing, China.
According to the organization’s Web site, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association was established in December 1975 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and member states of the southeast United States. Mississippi joined the association, already made up of the Carolinas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, in 2007.
While overseas, NESA Executive Director Jeff McKay said, his group will be working to forge relationships with new companies and strengthen existing relationships.
He said the purpose of the trip is “to talk about emerging trends, to establish business relationships, and to see where we can ... assist each other in growing our markets or facilitating business needs.”
McKay said the area must think on a global scale, and in order to be competitive, local leaders and economic development officials must work closely with politicians.
“The ability to bring the region together, to show everyone that by working together in a collaborative and cohesive manner, we can compete and we can get a lot more accomplished,” he said.
NESA officials said they previously attended the conference in Asia. McKay said his staff has worked hard to establish contacts overseas and give international companies a glimpse of what this area has to offer.
“We’re competing with the United States — and actually, the globe — for those jobs, so in order for us to compete they have to know who we are and what we’re all about,” he said.
McKay said he hopes the trip will accomplish the goals of helping to foster relationships with potential clients overseas and to help them see that the Pee Dee is the perfect place for an investment of money and job opportunities.
McKay’s team, along with the senators, will leave for the trip Oct. 15 and plan to return Oct. 25.
On the Web: North Eastern Strategic Alliance, www.scbusinesscorner.com
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