Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Announces First Ever Sister-Chamber Cooperation Agreement with Japan's Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Agreement Signed in Conjunction with the C&C of Honolulu Signing Sister-City Agreement with Chigasaki
HONOLULU (October 24, 2014) – Today, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii signed its first-ever sister-chamber cooperation agreement with Japan’s Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce & Industry to develop and promote economic ties between Hawaii and Chigasaki City. The agreement was signed in conjunction with the City and County of Honolulu’s sister-city agreement with Chigasaki City.
“The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the City & County of Honolulu, working together with the City and Chamber of Chigasaki, Japan, will promote cultural understanding, educational exchanges and stimulate economic development through our new sister-chamber and sister-city relationship,” said Chamber of Commerce Hawaii President and CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara. “This dual relationship will enhance our commitment to diversity, while providing a an invaluable platform to discuss and trade best practices, as well as seek mutually beneficial business opportunities.”
A delegation of more than 30 from Chigasaki were in attendance including: Chigasaki Mayor Nobuaki Hattori, Vice Mayor Takehiko Kimura, Chair of Chigasaki’s City Assembly Tadao Hirose, Vice Chair Yutaka Nakao, Chair of Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce & Industry Toshimichi Yamaguchi and Vice Chairs Yoshinori Maekawa, Nobuyuki Kamei and Takayuki Kumazawa.  Honolulu’s delegation included Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Chamber President & CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara, Consulate General of Japan Toyoei Shigeeda and several other senior dignitaries and officers.
“Both Chambers share the vision to enhance business ties abroad and develop our growing industries,” said Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Yamaguchi. “We are very pleased to enter a sister relationship with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii which will deepen opportunities for trade and promote mutual investment in Hawaii and Japan.”
The partnership will advance Hawaii and Chigasaki’s socio-economic relationship, promote mutual business growth, as well as enhance the Hawaii brand and Hawaii as a place to do business. The agreement jointly calls for the exchange of business and economic development resources, including trade and investment information, collaborative formulation of venture agreements and policy recommendations, as well as mutual assistance between chambers to further business opportunities.
“This Sister-Chamber relationship is particularly aligned with our Manufacturing in Hawaii Initiative, which serves to facilitate and promote Hawaii-made products locally and through export opportunities,” added Menor-McNamara. “We look forward to sharing the aloha spirit and cultivating our relationship with the Chigasaki Chamber to stimulate trade and enter new markets, as well as maximize opportunities for our members to leverage business connections overseas.”
Chigasaki City, approximately an hour’s drive from Tokyo, is comprised of 3,400 businesses of which 1,732 are members of the local chamber. Similar to the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, more than 85 percent of the Chigasaki Chamber’s membership is small business. In addition to Chigasaki’s affinity for Hawaii-made goods sold at various retailers, the city holds an annual Aloha Market, World Invitational Hula Festival and also has an Aloha Congress.
To learn more about the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and its Manufacturing in Hawaii Initiative, visit http://69.87.218.221/~newcochawaii.
As the leading “Voice of Business” in Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is the state’s largest organization advocating for businesses in Hawaii. Established in 1850, the Chamber works on behalf of its approximately 1,000 member companies and the business community, as a whole, to advance the state’s economic climate and help businesses succeed. The Chamber supports its members with training, business building and networking opportunities; coordinates advocacy activities for members’ involvement; and serves as a liaison between civilian and military communities in Hawaii.

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Contact: Lori Abe
808-545-4300
808-282-4398 (mobile)
labe@cochawaii.org