Alabama team talks future with Mazda, Toyota officials in Japan
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield and Huntsville-area officials held meetings this week with executives of Mazda and Toyota to expand relationships as the automakers prepare to officially launch construction on a $1.6 billion Alabama assembly plant. The mission began Monday, when the Alabama group traveled to Toyota’s Motomachi assembly plant and met with members of the Toyota USA executive team. On Tuesday, the group was in Mazda’s hometown of Hiroshima to learn more about Alabama’s newest automotive manufacturer. “During these visits with the executive headquarters teams of Toyota in Toyota City and Mazda in Hiroshima, we have learned more about each company and their vision for this joint venture that is already taking shape in Huntsville, Alabama,” Canfield said. “We have had rare opportunities to learn more about the new technologies that will be employed and how each company’s respective philosophies will be reflected at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA Inc. production facility,” he added. During a tour of Mazda’s Hiroshima facilities, the Alabama team met with Kiyotaka Shobuda, director and managing executive officer, center, and Masashi Aihara, president of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, far right. (contributed) Alabama assembly plant Mazda and Toyota announced their plans for the joint Huntsville production center in January. The plant will employ 4,000 people and produce 300,000 vehicles per year, split evenly between a new Mazda crossover and the Toyota Corolla sedan. The first vehicles are expected to roll off the assembly lines at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, as the venture is called, in 2021, indicating a rapid time line for construction at the Huntsville site. Those joining Canfield on the trip to Japan include Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber CEO Chip Cherry and Lucia Cape, the chamber’s senior vice president for economic development. Others are Paul Finley, mayor of Madison; Jason Black, Limestone County commissioner; Rick Tucker, executive director of the Port of Huntsville; and Kim Lewis, chair-elect of the Huntsville/Madison Chamber. Hollie Pegg, assistant director of business development for Asian strategy at the Alabama Department of Commerce, is also on the mission. Representatives of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama attended as well. “These meetings in Japan with the Mazda and Toyota corporations have created an even greater sense of understanding of the partnership and commitment that has been created with two of the world’s most renowned automakers, while engineering, road design and site prep continues on more than 2,000 acres locally,” Strong said. He added that the Mazda Toyota assembly plant project “will be a redefining moment for North Alabama.” Mazda connection While Alabama officials have long had deep ties to Toyota, which has operated an engine plant in Huntsville for more than a decade, Canfield said this week’s discussions in Hiroshima provided an opportunity to forge a deeper relationship with Mazda and its executive team. In addition, the discussions centered on how AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, will help the automakers reach an aggressive employment ramp-up at the new plant. Ed Castile, director of AIDT and deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, will be in Hiroshima on Friday to tour Mazda’s production and training facilities. Canfield said the meetings with the Mazda executives will help the Alabama team develop a strategy for securing the supply chain for the automaker’s first U.S. assembly plant. Masamichi Kogai, president and chief executive officer of Mazda Motor Corp., speaks at the January announcement of the Toyota-Mazda plant coming to Huntsville. (file) “Our meetings with the Mazda executive team, and the production facility visits that accompanied them, afforded Team Alabama the best opportunity to deepen our understanding of what is at the core of Mazda,” he said. “We have learned how Mazda embraces the principle of ‘Monotsukuri Innovation’ in pursuit of achieving quality in production that reflects the belief that though they make many vehicles, each customer sees only the one vehicle. “This is a very driver-driven company,” he added. “They want drivers of Mazdas to have fun with the driving experience. They want their customers to feel the ‘Zoom Zoom’ that is built into every Mazda.” Besides touring Toyota’s Motomachi plant, the Alabama group visited the automaker’s Kaikan Museum, seeing some of the company’s newest automotive technologies and smart cars. “I can’t stress enough the importance of relationships in doing business with our overseas partners,” Battle said. “If we had not already established a long-standing collaborative relationship with Toyota, we would not have landed the new Mazda-Toyota plant. These commitments don’t just happen in 15-minute meetings or phone calls. There is a long process of communication, listening and work toward mutual respect before we develop a trusted business relationship.” Cherry said the longstanding relationship with Toyota played a key role in securing the new assembly plant for Huntsville. Later this week, an Alabama delegation will attend the 41st annual meeting of SEUS Japan, an international conference in Tokyo that aims to broaden economic and cultural ties between seven Southeastern states and Japan. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Kay Ivey says Alabama could lose up to 4,000 jobs due to tariffs
Last week, Alabama governor Kay Ivey released a statement saying the Trump Administration’s new tariffs will cause harm to the Yellowhammer State’s economy. Taking it a step further, she contacted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and several members of the Alabama congressional delegation expressing her concerns. “Import tariffs, and any retaliatory tariffs on American made goods, will harm Alabama, the companies that have invested billions of dollars in our state, and the thousands of households which are dependent upon those companies for a good-paying job,” Ivey said in a statement. “I strongly oppose any efforts that may harm those companies that employ thousands of Alabamians and contribute billions to our economy. I am committed to protecting Alabama jobs and consumers, the world over, who are proud to purchase products made in Alabama.” In her letter to Ross, Ivey touted Alabama’s record year in 2017 citing the nearly $3 billion in automotive-related investments, the announcement of a new Mazda-Toyota plant, and the more than 57,000 Alabamians who are already employed by the sates manufacturing sector. “In 2017, Alabama produced almost one million cars and light trucks and 1.7 million engines. However, Alabama’s success relies on access to foreign markets and imports of certain automotive components that become part of the vehicles produced in our state,” Ivey’s letter read. “Last year, Alabama reached a record high of $21.7 billion in exports. Our top export category was automotive, accounting for $10.9 billion of those exports. The largest importers of Alabama made goods and services were Canada, China, Germany, Mexico and Japan – all countries which may be forced to reciprocate in response to any new import tariffs.” Ivey ended her letter to Ross by saying that tariffs places on imported materials used for car manufacturing, and tariffs placed on the state’s exported vehicles would increase costs and cause a high number of Alabamians to lose their jobs. “Estimates show that a ten percent decrease in Alabama-made vehicle exports could result in the loss of approximately 4,000 jobs in Alabama,” the letter continued. “Such a loss would be devastating to thousands of families across our state. These are Alabama families who are dependent on the income from working in these facilities.” “As Governor of the Great State of Alabama, I strongly oppose any efforts that may harm those companies that employ thousands of Alabamians and contribute billions to our economy. I respectfully ask that you not recommend to President Trump the levying of trade tariffs on automobiles and automotive parts.”
Both sides preparing as if U.S. – North Korea summit is a go
Rapid-fire diplomacy played out on two continents in advance of an “expected” summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, the strengthening resolve coming after a series of high-risk, high-reward gambits by the two leaders. Officials wouldn’t say that the June 12 Singapore summit was back on, but preparations on both sides of the Pacific proceeded as if it were. Two weeks of hard-nosed negotiating, including a communications blackout by the North and a public cancellation by the U.S., appeared to be paying off as the two sides engaged in their most substantive talks to date about the meeting. Trump tweeted Tuesday that he had a “great team” working on the summit, confirming that top North Korean official Kim Yong Chol was headed to New York for talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In addition, teams of U.S. officials have arrived at the Korean Demilitarized Zone and in Singapore to prepare for the meeting. “Solid response to my letter, thank you!” tweeted Trump. He announced he had decided to “terminate” the summit last week in an open letter to Kim that stressed American military might, but also left the door cracked for future communication. White House officials characterized the letter as a negotiating tactic, designed to bring the North back to the table after a provocative statement, skipped planning talks and ignored phone calls. But aides almost immediately suggested the meeting could still get back on track. And after a suitably conciliatory statement from North Korea, Trump said the same. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that since the letter, “the North Koreans have been engaging” with the U.S. Trump views the meeting as a legacy-defining opportunity to make the nuclear deal that has evaded others, but he pledged to walk away from the meeting if he believed the North wasn’t serious about discussing dismantling its nuclear program. U.S. officials cast the on-again, off-again drama as in keeping with Trump’s deal-making style, and reflective of the technically still-warring leaders testing each other. In his book “The Art of the Deal,” Trump wrote: “The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have.” After the North’s combative statements, there was debate inside the Trump administration about whether it marked a real turn to belligerence or a feint to see how far Kim Jong Un could push the U.S. in the lead-up to the talks. Trump had mused that Kim’s “attitude” had changed after the North Korean’s surprise visit to China two weeks ago, suggesting China was pushing Kim away from the table. Trump’s letter, the aides said, was designed to pressure the North on the international stage for appearing to have cold feet. White House officials maintain that Trump was hopeful the North was merely negotiating but that he was prepared for the letter to mark the end of the two-month flirtation. Instead, the officials said, it brought both sides to the table with increasing seriousness, as they work through myriad logistical and policy decisions to keep June 12 a viable option for the summit. The flurry of diplomatic activity intensified with Kim Yong Chol’s appearance at the Beijing airport Wednesday. South Korea-based Yonhap News cited diplomatic sources as saying Kim was on an Air China flight that departed in the afternoon, and U.S. officials familiar with planning have said he was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday. Kim is a former military intelligence chief and now a vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party’s central committee. He will be the highest-level North Korean official to travel to the United States since 2000, when late National Defense Commission First Vice Chairman Jo Myong Rok visited Washington, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said. Pompeo has traveled to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, twice in recent weeks for meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and has said there is a “shared understanding” between the two sides about what they hope to achieve. Meanwhile, a team of American diplomats is holding preparatory discussions with North Korean officials at the DMZ. The group first met with its counterparts Sunday, and was seen leaving a Seoul hotel on Tuesday, but it was unclear whether they went to Panmunjom, a village that straddles the border inside the DMZ. The U.S. officials are led by Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, who formerly was the U.S. ambassador to Seoul and a top negotiator with North Korea in past nuclear talks. It includes senior officials with the National Security Council and the Pentagon. The White House emphasized that it has remained in close contact with South Korean and Japanese officials as preparations for the talks continue. Sanders said Trump will host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan on June 7 to coordinate their thinking ahead of the summit. Trump hosted South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week. Moon, who has lobbied hard for nuclear negotiations between Trump and Kim Jong Un, held a surprise meeting with the North Korean leader Saturday in an effort to keep the summit alive. South Korean media also reported that a North Korean delegation arrived in Singapore on Monday night, where other U.S. officials, led by White House deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin, are preparing for the summit. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Kay Ivey travels to Japan, meets with automakers
Gov. Kay Ivey departed for Japan Tuesday with a small team of Alabama economic development specialists on a business development mission. There, they’ll attend high-level meetings with executives of global automakers Toyota, Mazda and Honda with the strategic goal to facilitate growth in the state’s automotive sector and reinforce relationships with the manufacturers. The Alabama delegation will return Thursday following the appointments in Tokyo. “The auto industry has been a key driver of economic growth in Alabama for two decades, and we want to make sure we’re positioned to see that growth accelerate in coming years,” Ivey said. “It’s important that we work closely with these automakers to ensure they thrive in Alabama, because that will bring more jobs and investment to the state.” The Japan mission comes as the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA joint venture partnership is beginning to move forward with plans for a $1.6 billion assembly plant in Huntsville that will employ 4,000 people and spawn a significant network of suppliers. Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the discussions with Mazda and Toyota executives will focus on moving the assembly plant project forward. In addition, the talks will center on how their supply chain can be filled leading up to a production launch in 2021. “While we have a longstanding relationship with Toyota, we’re still developing bonds with Mazda, which has no manufacturing presence in the U.S.,” Canfield said. “We can use our extensive experience in assisting automakers expand their footprint to help the company build out a productive and efficient operation in Alabama.” Joining Governor Ivey and Secretary Canfield in the meetings with Mazda and Toyota executives will be Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Bill Johnson, and Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce. Steve Pelham, Governor Ivey’s Chief of Staff, and Hollie Pegg, Assistant Director of Business Development at the Alabama Department of Commerce, will also be included in these meetings. Honda Appointment The state team, minus the Huntsville representatives, will also engage in talks with leaders of Honda, which operates a $2.6 billion assembly plant in Talladega County with 4,500 full-time workers. In early 2017, Honda announced an $85 million expansion as part of a multi-phase project to improve manufacturing flexibility at the Alabama factory and prepare it for future technologies. Canfield said the meeting with Honda is meant to reinforce Alabama’s strong relationship with the automaker and discuss how the state can support the facility’s new leadership and future growth plans. “Honda is a very important member of the Alabama automotive manufacturing family, and we’re committed to working closely with this great company as it pursues new levels of success at its Talladega County operation,” he said. Meeting with Ambassador In addition, the Alabama group will visit the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to meet with Ambassador Bill Hagerty for a discussion expected to center on the current business climate in Japan and unfolding trade developments affecting the two countries. “Ambassador Hagerty was one of the first people to call me and congratulate Alabama on attracting the Toyota-Mazda investment. This meeting shows the importance that Alabama plays on the world stage and I appreciate the work the Ambassador does on behalf of our nation,” Ivey continued. “I look forward to the meeting and to working with him to continue the strong relationship between Japan and Alabama.” Ivey says she hopes these meetings will lead to additional economic growth for Alabama and more trade between the state and Japan.
Alabama leaders seek to strengthen bonds at SEUS Japan 40
The 40th Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S.-Japan & Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations, known as SEUS Japan 40, is being held in Greenville, South Carolina, this week. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield is leading the 28-member Alabama delegation and spoke at the opening session. “It’s a great honor for the state of Alabama to participate in this historic gathering of SEUS Japan,” he said. “Through the years our partnerships, and friendships, have flourished thanks to the collaboration made possible by these organizations.” Alabama’s economic ties with Japan run deep, he said. “In 2016 alone, foreign direct investment in Alabama by Japanese firms topped $113 million, and the companies created more than 300 jobs,” Canfield said. “We look forward to seeing even more growth in the future as Japanese businesses thrive in our state and across the U.S.” Delegates from Japan and six other Southeastern states are participating in SEUS Japan 40. Session topics include labor force trends and challenges in Japan and the Southeast, and bilateral relations between the U.S. and Japan in the areas of trade, investment, security and defense. Hilda Lockhart, director of the Commerce Department’s Office of International Trade, said SEUS Japan 40 offers an opportunity to build on the already solid bonds between Alabama and Japan. “Over the decades the conference has taken on various topics and issues for discussions, but at the end of the day, it is still about one key element – building on new and existing relationships between Japan and Alabama,” she said. “This relationship is deeply rooted on economic and strategic bonds and participating each year helps make that bond stronger.” Massive impact Japanese investment has boosted communities across Alabama. In Walker County, for instance, total Japanese investment now exceeds $150 million and has resulted in more than 500 new jobs. “The impact from Japanese investment in Walker County and the city of Jasper has been a game changer for the local and regional economy,” said David Knight, executive director of the Walker County Development Authority and a member of Alabama’s SEUS Japan 40 delegation. Yorozu Automotive is the third Japanese Tier 1 auto supplier and fourth overall supplier to call Walker County home, he said. Yorozu broke ground on a $115 million state-of-the-art metal stamping facility in January 2016. The company employs 140 people and will ramp up to more than 300 jobs at full production. Nitto Denko, a producer of seals, gaskets and interior components, was the first Japanese company to locate in Jasper, followed by HTNA (Hayashi Telempu), which completed construction of a new 150,000-square-foot facility in 2014 to manufacture automotive carpet, trunk linings and interior parts. “The completion of Interstate 22 in 2016, connecting Birmingham with Memphis, has placed Walker County in an ideal location for future automotive projects, with Jasper being located less than 90 miles from four auto assembly plants and less than 250 miles from 10 auto assembly plants,” Knight said. “Projects like Yorozu, HTNA and Nitto Denko have helped us diversify our industrial base, grow the local economy and provide job opportunities that improve the quality of life for area residents.” Building bonds Looking forward, Japan and the U.S. face shared challenges and opportunities that range from workforce to trade and investment, Lockhart said. “Our delegation is comprised of both public and private leaders who are participating to look deeper into how we can approach these together. It allows everyone to make new contacts and build on those that have been attending this event for many years,” she said. The Alabama delegation includes representatives from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Daikin America, Gray Construction, BL Harbert International, Alabama Power Co., Spire, Yates Construction and North American Lighting. Other participating organizations are: AIDT, Birmingham Business Alliance, Birmingham Sister Cities, Japan America Society of Alabama, the City of Jasper, Walker County Development Authority, Morgan County Commission, Morgan County Economic Development Association, Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Department of Labor and the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul of Japan to Alabama, also is a part of the delegation. Today, Alabama is home to 67 Japanese manufacturing operations, including a heavy automotive presence in Toyota, Honda and their extensive network of suppliers and support businesses. Japan’s non-automotive companies have a significant presence in Alabama, too. Among them are dietary supplement manufacturer Pharmavite, a subsidiary of Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., as well as Nippon Steel, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., and Daikin and Toray, which make carbon fibers and fluorofibers. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
Blake Dowling: The official column of hotel tech, Tally, Japan and the FBI
This past weekend, I attended the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Conference. As usual, it was a very positive experience. It was my 11th consecutive conference, and to be surrounded by so many clients, elected officials, and business partners all in one place is a rare opportunity. Putting differences aside, you can spend a weekend together pushing forward the agenda of making North Florida a better place. People on different sides of the political aisle, business rivals, competitors – everyone taking a moment to step away from their divisions and focus on what can bring us together. The only oddity there was that it was recently revealed an undercover FBI agent visited the conference last year posing as Mike Miller, a developer. Hopefully, all those in question will be vindicated as Tally is taking a brand hit with its high crime rate and these investigations. Emcee Gary Yordon defused the events in question lightning fast. Yordon put some lipstick on the situation with a hilarious introduction. He asked all elected officials to stand; next, he asked all Leadership Tallahassee graduates to stand; then (drum roll) he asked all “undercover FBI agents” to stand. ZING. So the elephant in the room became more like a Pomeranian in the room; still there, but small and annoying, versus large and in-charge. Gary, the staff at the Omni and the team at the Tallahassee Chamber did a first-class job with the event. Well done. As with any trip, I try to keep an eye on any new tech innovations in the hotel industry, and this weekend, I spotted a winner — a full miniature keyboard on the back of the remote control. Why is this not the standard? It takes forever (or at least 15 to 20 seconds) to type in a show name on a standard remote with its numbers pad for a Netflix or Xfinity search. So, the keyboard is a game changer. Just like a TV in the mirror spotted at a Marriot earlier this year; the world needs this now. OK, so these are “cool,” but I cannot talk about hotels any further without leaving the world of FBI, the Chamber, business and politics. Now to go across the world to our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. New tech in hotels is pretty neat, but what about a whole hotel that bursts with tech. Meaning a hotel run by artificial intelligence. It’s not in beta mode, it’s not some wacky idea, it is open right now and can be yours for $350 (U.S.) for a two-night stay, according to booking.com. The Hotel is called “Henn-na Hotel” and it is in Sasebo, Japan. The neighborhood is a Disney-like area, complete with all sort of theme parks. Hotel owners claim it to be the most efficient hotel in the world. You are checked in by creepy, I mean, cutting-edge fem-bots or dino-staff. Most of your interactions are with AI. The hotel claims it is 90 percent automated. For example, there is a wacky little robot in your home that helps with wake-up calls, air conditioning, etc. There is also a robot porter, automated cleaning service, and even a robot arm that passes for a coat check. (They do not mention a robot bartender, there is a missed opportunity for awesomeness. I think a Godzilla AI bartender would be cool.) Moving on … there are a handful of humans on staff in case something goes south, which is reassuring. There are not even keys in the hotel, the doors are AI doors with facial recognition functionality built-in. This hotel has horror movie written all over it. Keenen Ivory Wayans (who wrote Scary Movie) Are you listening, man? This script writes itself. Once you check-in, THEY will not let you check out … The world might not be ready for AI hotels, but the world does not ask permission; it just keeps rolling along, disruption, conferences, scandals, robot hotels, elections, North Korean threats, FBI investigations and everything else. Keep your nose clean and buckle up. ___ Blake Dowling is CEO of Aegis Business Technologies and he gave six back-to-back presentations on cybersecurity at the previously mentioned conference, so his voice is shot. Email, please; don’t call with questions.
World jittery about Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ inaugural speech
President Donald Trump‘s inaugural speech promised “America first” policy led by a forceful executive, in contrast to the coalition building and international conferences which have featured strongly in past administrations. The billionaire businessman and reality television star — the first president who had never held political office or high military rank — promised to stir a “new national pride” and protect America from the “ravages” of countries he says have stolen U.S. jobs. “This American carnage stops right here,” Trump declared. In a warning to the world, he said, “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America first.” A look at some reactions from around the world: ___ AFGHANS DISAPPOINTED BUT HOPEFUL Like many in the Afghan capital of Kabul, restaurant owner Mohammad Nahim watched the presidential inauguration ceremonies but was disappointed to not hear any mention of Afghanistan. “Trump did not mention a word about Afghanistan in his speech and the salaries of the Afghan army and police are paid by the U.S.,” he said. He added that if the U.S. stops helping Afghanistan, “our country will again become a sanctuary to terrorists. I hope Trump will not forget Afghanistan.” Mohammed Kasim Zazi, a shopkeeper whose home is in eastern Afghanistan’s Khost province, where the feared Haqqani network is prominent, said he expected Trump to stay focused on Afghanistan. “Trump said he will finish the terrorists in the world and that has to mean that Afghanistan will remain in the sights of the U.S.” said Zazi. Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said he was encouraged by Trump’s speech to soldiers in Bagram. “There he announced his support to the troops and the continuation of support for their troops here and strengthening their troops, which is a good and elegant step and I am sure that our cooperation in other areas will continue as well.” ___ SPEECH RESONATES IN MEXICO Perhaps no country was watching the speech more closely than Mexico. Trump has made disparaging remarks about immigrants who come to the United States illegally and sought to pressure companies not to set up shop in Mexico by threatening a border tariff on goods manufactured there and exported to the United States. So Trump’s talk of “protect(ing) our borders,” ”America first” and “buy American and hire American” had particular resonance in America’s southern neighbor. Ricardo Anaya Cortes, president of the conservative opposition National Action Party, called for “the unity of all Mexicans, unity in the face of this protectionist, demagogic and protectionist speech we just heard. Unity against that useless wall, against deportations, against the blockade of investment.” “The challenge is enormous. … We demand the federal government leave aside tepidity, that it tackle with absolute firmness and dignity the new relationship with the United States,” Anaya said. The United States is by far Mexico’s largest commercial partner, buying some 80 percent of its $532 billion in exports in 2015. Mexico is the second-largest market for U.S. exports. “At least the word ‘Mexico’ was not heard in the speech. Nevertheless one can expect the United States to launch a hyper-protectionist project,” said Ilan Semo Groman, a researcher at Iberoamericana University. If Trump truly moves to block or drive away U.S. investment in Mexico, Semo said Mexico should focus its commercial efforts on other countries. “There are very clear possibilities,” Semo said. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto sent three tweets after Trump’s inaugural speech Friday: — “I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration. We will work to strengthen our relationship with shared responsibility.” — “We will establish a respectful dialogue with the government of President @realDonaldTrump, to Mexico’s benefit.” — “Sovereignty, national interest and the protection of Mexicans will guide the relationship with the new government of the United States.” ___ PAKISTAN WORRIES ABOUT MUSLIM COMMENTS A group of retired government officials gathered after morning prayers for a walk in a sprawling park in the heart of the federal capital of Islamabad and the topic of their conversation was President Trump’s inaugural speech. They expressed concern that Trump would target the Islamic world, particularly Pakistan, because of his campaign rhetoric about Muslims as well as his inaugural speech in which he promised to eradicate Islamic terrorism worldwide. Pakistan has often been accused of harboring militant insurgents and declared terrorist groups that have targeted neighboring India, against whom Pakistan has fought three wars, as well as Afghanistan. Pakistan denies the charges. “Likely there is more trouble in store for the Islamic world and our country will take the most brunt of the harsh treatment from President Trump administration,” said Mohammad Afzal. His sentiments were echoed by Shafiq Khan, who said “the one main thing that the new president mentioned about the world outside America is to tackle Islamic radicalism and that should be the matter of concern for all of us.” Amanaullah, a school teacher in Islamabad, feared Trump’s reference to eliminating radical Islamic terrorism. “I think under this name he wants to malign and eliminate Islam,” he said. Umair Khan, an engineer, said of Trump: “Let him taste the burden of government and get settled, I am sure he will calm.” ___ CONCERN IN TOKYO Some Tokyo residents are worried that Trump’s “America first” policy will usher in an era of populism and protectionism at the expense of the rest of the world. Tadashi Gomibuchi, who works in the manufacturing industry, recorded Trump’s inauguration speech overnight as he was keen to hear what the new president had to say. “Trump is trying to make big changes to the way things are. Changes are good sometimes, but when America, the most powerful, loses stability … it’s a grave concern,” he said. “If you take his words literally, it may destabilize the world going forward and I’m really worried. I hope things will lead to a soft landing.” Retiree Kuninobu Inoue, who lived in the U.S. during the 1990s, is concerned about trade frictions between Japan and the U.S, citing Trump’s decision
Revelers bid adieu to a year of conflicts, celebrity deaths
As 2016 draws to a close, revelers around the world are bidding a weary adieu to a year filled with political surprises, prolonged conflicts and deaths of legendary celebrities. How people are ushering in the new year: AUSTRALIA Sydney sent up a dazzling tribute to 2016’s fallen icons with a New Year’s Eve fireworks display honoring the late singer David Bowie and late actor Gene Wilder, becoming the first major city to bid a bittersweet adieu to a turbulent year. The glittering display over Sydney’s famed harbor and bridge featured Saturn and star-shaped fireworks set to “Space Oddity,” the classic song by Bowie — one of the seemingly endless parade of beloved entertainers who died in 2016. Wilder was also honored as the bridge lit up in a rainbow of colors while a song from Wilder’s famed film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” played. “This year, sadly, we saw the loss of many music and entertainment legends around the world,” fireworks show co-producer Catherine Flanagan said. “So celebrating their music as part of Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks displays is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been and what the future may hold.” ___ LAS VEGAS More than 300,000 visitors are expected to descend on Las Vegas for an extravagant New Year’s Eve celebration. Nightclubs are pulling out all the stops with performances from DJ Calvin Harris, rappers T-Pain and Kendrick Lamar and artists Drake and Bruno Mars. The city’s celebrity chefs have crafted elaborate prix fixe menus complete with caviar and champagne toasts. An eight-minute fireworks show will kick off at the stroke of midnight, with rockets launching from the tops of half a dozen casinos. Federal officials have ranked the celebration just below the Super Bowl and on par with the festivities in Times Square. FBI and Secret Service agents will work alongside local police departments that are putting all hands on deck for the big night. ___ GERMANY In Berlin the mood was more somber than celebratory. “I don’t like the way politics is going,” said Daniel Brandt. “Fears are being fanned and people are so angry with each other.” The tone of public debate in Germany has become shriller over the past two years with the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants. Some Germans blame Chancellor Angela Merkel for attacks such as the recent rampage in Berlin, where a failed asylum-seeker from Tunisia rammed a truck into a crowded Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more. As the country heads for a general election in which the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party is expected to poll strongly, Brandt said he was hoping for “proper solutions to our problems.” Two Israeli tourists, on a visit to the German capital, seemed at a loss when asked about their wishes for 2017. “Peace on Earth. Just happiness, really,” said Nathan and Libat, declining to give their last names. Walking by the Reichstag, Germany’s Parliament building, Hamed Noori said 2016 had been a good year. “I came to Germany from Afghanistan,” he said. “Life is better here.” Birgitta Bergquist, a recent retiree visiting Berlin from Sweden, said she looked forward to spending more time with her 3-year-old granddaughter. “And we hope the family stays healthy.” Nicole Durand-Nusser, originally from France but living in Berlin for almost 50 years, said 2016 had been a difficult year: “Brexit, Trump, Erdogan — it’s all getting worse. “I’m a convinced European and I hope Europe doesn’t collapse in 2017,” she said. ___ TURKEY Neslihan Dogruol, a restaurant owner in a chic Istanbul neighborhood, said she hopes for peace in 2017 following a year filled with “unrest and death.” “2016 affected everyone badly,” she said, referring to major attacks that hit Turkey in the past year. The restaurant, adorned with snowflakes and tiny decorative lights for the evening, will have fewer people for dinner. “There is a serious gap between 2015 and 2016 in terms of business, people are going out less,” Dogruol said, adding that she expects more people to come for drinks. Security measures were heightened in major Turkish cities. Traffic leading up to key squares in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, will be closed, police said. In Istanbul, 17,000 police officers have been put on duty, some camouflaged as Santa Claus and others as street vendors, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday. Ankara and Istanbul were targeted by bomb attacks in 2016, killing more than 180 people. Turkey has been in the throes of violence, combatting the Islamic State group, Kurdish militants and a coup attempt blamed on the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. ___ RUSSIA President Vladimir Putin invoked a bit of seasonal enchantment in his New Year’s Eve remarks to the nation. “Each of us may become something of a magician on the night of the New Year,” Putin said in a short televised address broadcast in the closing minutes of 2016 in each of Russia’s 11 time zones. “To do this we simply need to treat our parents with love and gratitude, take care of our children and families, respect our colleagues at work, nurture our friendships, defend truth and justice, be merciful and help those who are in need of support. This is the whole secret,” he said. New Year’s Eve is Russia’s major gift-giving holiday, and big Russian cities were awash in festive lights and decorations. The Moscow subway offered a special holiday train, festooned with lights and artificial greenery. “I wish for the next year to better than this,” said rider Alexander Pisaryev. “We are waiting for good, for peace and order,” said another, Valentina Daineka. ___ THE VATICAN Pope Francis has called on the faithful to help young people find a place in society, noting the paradox of “a culture that idolizes youth” and yet has made no place for the young. Francis said during vespers marking New Year’s Eve that young people have been “pushed to the margins of public life, forcing them to migrate
Barack Obama, Japan’s Shinzo Abe decry ‘horrors of war’ at Pearl Harbor
The leaders of Japan and the United States sought to remind the world that even the most bitter enemies can become allies, during a historic pilgrimage to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not apologize, but conceded Japan “must never repeat the horrors of war again.” Seventy-five years after Japan’s surprise attack, Abe and President Barack Obama peered down Tuesday at the rusting wreckage of the USS Arizona, clearly visible in the tranquil, teal water. In a show of respect for the war dead, Obama and Abe dropped purple petals into the water and stood in silence. More than 1,000 U.S. war dead remain entombed in the submerged ship, which Japan struck as part of the devastating attack that killed more than 2,300 Americans and sent America marching into World War II. “As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place,” Abe said later at nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. That was the closest Abe would get to an apology for the attack. And it was enough for Obama, who also declined to apologize seven months ago when he became America’s first sitting president to visit Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in a bid to end the war. It was enough, too, for Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived the attack. The 96-year-old said he had no hard feelings and added, “War is war.” “They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do,” Rodrigues said before the visit. Abe, who became Japan’s first leader to visit Pearl Harbor with a U.S. president, said the visit “brought utter silence to me.” His remarks capped a day that was carefully choreographed by the U.S. and Japan to show a strong and growing alliance between former foes. Obama and Abe started Tuesday’s activities here with a formal meeting at another nearby military base, in what the White House said was probably Obama’s last with a foreign leader before leaving office in January. It was a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe’s predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House. Yet despite the display of unity, there was a point of disagreement the day after about what had happened in the meeting. Japanese officials said that in their talks, Abe and Obama agreed to closely monitor the movements of China’s first and sole aircraft carrier, which has sailed into the western Pacific for the first time. But the Americans on Wednesday said that was inaccurate and no agreement was reached, although they said Obama and Abe did speak briefly about “regional security issues.” Obama, speaking after he and Abe laid green-and-peach wreaths at the memorial, called Pearl Harbor a sacred place and said that “even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and lasting peace.” It’s a notion Obama tried throughout his presidency to put into practice, as he reached out to former adversaries Iran, Myanmar and Cuba. Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe was the first to go to the memorial above the sunken USS Arizona, where a marbled wall lists the names of U.S. troops killed in the Japanese attack. “There’s this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this ‘Pearl Harbor syndrome,’ that we did something very unfair,” said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. He said he believes Abe’s visit would “absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have.” In the years after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama’s tenure, including strengthened military ties. Yet there are questions about whether the relationship will fray under President-elect Donald Trump, a possibility neither Obama nor Abe addressed. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Donald Trump: Japanese mogul pledges $50 billion US investment
Winning praise from President-elect Donald Trump for being a “great man of industry,” Japanese tech billionaire Masayoshi Son promised to invest $50 billion in new startups in the United States, committing to creating 50,000 new jobs. Son is the founder and chief executive of Japanese technology and telecoms giant SoftBank, which owns the U.S. mobile carrier Sprint. Sprint shares initially spiked after the announcement. Son left Trump Tower after being escorted down the elevator by the president-elect, who touted the pledge before waiting investors. “We are going to invest $50 billion in the U.S. and commit to create 50,000 new jobs,” Son told reporters. “We (will) invest into the new startup companies in the United States.” The announcement is the latest instance in which Trump appears to be conducting economic policy via ad-hoc deal-making – sometimes taking credit whether he deserves it or not. Last week, the president-elect spoke at the Carrier furnace plant in Indianapolis after the company announced plans to keep 800 jobs at the plant instead of outsourcing them to Mexico. Trump quickly claimed he had saved those positions, even though the company is still shifting more than 1,000 jobs from that factory and another Indiana plant to Mexico. Similarly, the week after the election Trump tweeted that he had dissuaded Ford Motor Co. from moving a Kentucky factory to Mexico. The claim was a stretch; Ford had no plans to move the plant and had already agreed to keep producing one specific model there, although it did back away from a plan to shift production of the Lincoln MKC, a small SUV, from Louisville to Cuautitlan, Mexico. Trump quickly took credit for Son’s commitment on Tuesday, writing on Twitter: “Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!” “I just came to celebrate his new job,” Son said. “Because he said he would do a lot of deregulation, I said, ‘This is great, the U.S. will become great again’.” Trump praised Son for being a “great man of industry,” and “one of the truly great men,” adding, “See you soon” as he headed back upstairs. Trump plans to meet with leading tech executives next week, a group that will include venture capitalist Peter Thiel – one of Trump’s few supporters in Silicon Valley – and Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins. The job commitments that Trump claims to have produced are symbolically resonant. Still, the economy has generated 2.25 million new jobs in the past 12 months and many economists say that accelerating this pace may be difficult in the long run because of the aging U.S. population. Financial details about Son’s commitment and its timeframe remain unclear. T-Mobile did not answer emailed questions. Sprint spokesman Dave Tovar referred questions to Softbank. As he spoke to reporters, Son held up a paper with the logos of Softbank and Foxconn, a tech manufacturer that makes iPhones for Apple in China. The paper listed the figures $50 billion and $7 billion and said “generate 50,000 new jobs and 50,000 new jobs over the next four years. Foxconn Technology Group issued a statement saying it could “confirm that we are in preliminary discussions regarding a potential investment that would represent an expansion of our current US operations.” The statement said the scope of any possible investment was undecided and details would be announced after discussions with “relevant U.S. officials.” Sprint has struggled since its 2013 acquisition by Softbank. The carrier’s attempt to join with rival T-Mobile failed in 2014 after regulators objected to combining two of the four largest mobile telecom companies in the United States. T-Mobile has surpassed Sprint to become the No. 3 carrier, while Sprint has struggled with cost cuts and layoffs. (AT&T and Verizon are the largest wireless carriers.) Analysts have predicted, however, that a Trump-led Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission would be more likely to allow telecom mergers, including a deal between Sprint and T-Mobile. T-Mobile has 50,000 employees and a stock-market value of $46 billion – but the similarities between those numbers and Son’s commitment could just be a coincidence. In October, SoftBank announced that it would establish a $25 billion fund for technology investments that could grow to $100 billion. SoftBank said it signed an agreement with a fund run by the government of Saudi Arabia and other investors. Japanese media said the planned $50 billion investment would come from that fund. Softbank spokesman Matthew Nicholson declined to say if it would provide the money for the U.S. investments. SoftBank also owns Britain’s ARM Holdings. ARM is known as an innovator in the “internet of things,” and in technology used in smartphones. It also sells the Pepper human-shaped companion robot for homes and businesses, and runs a solar energy business in Japan. The company, founded in 1981, also has within its investment empire financial technology and ride-booking services. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Japan PM in NY for 1st meeting by foreign leader with Donald Trump
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe becomes the first world leader to meet President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday, seeking reassurances over the future of the U.S.-Japan security and trade relations. Abe meets with Trump in New York, where the incoming president is working on setting up an administration after his surprise election victory last week that has injected new uncertainty into old U.S. alliances. Trump’s campaign rhetoric caused consternation in many world capitals, including Tokyo. Trump has said he would demand that allies such as Japan and South Korea contribute more to the cost of basing U.S. troops in their countries. Such comments have worried Japan at a time when the threat from North Korea is rising, and China is challenging the U.S.-led security status quo in the Pacific. The State Department has said it had yet to hear from Trump’s transition team, raising the prospect of the Republican holding the meeting with Abe without any input from career diplomats with deep experience dealing with Japan. Both Japan and South Korea already pay considerable sums to support the U.S. bases, and note that it’s also in America’s strategic interest to deploy troops in the region. Trump has suggested that Japan and South Korea could obtain their own nuclear weapons, rather than rely on U.S. deterrence, which risks a triggering an atomic arms races in Northeast Asia. South Korea currently pays more than $800 million a year – about 50 percent of non-personnel costs of the U.S. military deployment on its soil – and is paying $9.7 billion more for relocating U.S. military bases, according to the Congressional Research Service. Japan pays about $2 billion a year, about half of the cost of the stationing U.S. forces. The Japanese leader may also try to sway Trump on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country trade agreement that the president-elect opposes. The pact was championed by President Barack Obama, and Trump’s victory has all but erased hopes of its early ratification by the U.S. Congress. The pact is expected to be discussed in a side meeting at the annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Community in Peru, where Abe heads after New York. Obama will also be at APEC. Abe is Japan’s most powerful leader in a decade, and he has invested political capital in overcoming strong domestic opposition to the TPP. He has also sought to increase the international role played by Japan’s military, which is constrained by a pacifist constitution. That could jibe with Trump’s desire to see U.S. partners shoulder more of the burden for their defense. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Dawn Azok: Japanese investment in Alabama fuels many industries
When it comes to Japanese investment in Alabama, auto manufacturers Honda and Toyota and their broad network of suppliers across the state immediately come to mind. But the Asian nation is behind a significant number of non-automotive companies here as well, from chemical and steel producers to pharmaceutical and life insurance firms. More than 140 Japanese companies call Alabama home, and their combined annual contribution to the state economy, from a consumer perspective, tops $200 million, said Mark Jackson, honorary consul general of Japan in Alabama. “It is a solid, proven base for Japanese investment to only grow bigger,” he said. “The Japan America story is tremendous, but I think the Japan Alabama story is even better.” Jackson is part of an Alabama delegation that visited Tokyo last week and participated in SEUS Japan 39, a high-level forum that aimed to strengthen cultural and economic ties. Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, and other Commerce officials were part of the delegation in Tokyo, where they visited Honda’s corporate headquarters. While there, Canfield presented Honda officials with a hand-crafted glass sculpture from Orbix Hot Glass in Fort Payne. The Commerce team also engaged in meetings with representatives of Unipres, an auto supplier with an operation in Steele, and others. Business connections Last year alone, 19 new and expanding Japanese companies and joint ventures announced more than 700 new jobs and new investment topping $365 million, according to Alabama Department of Commerce data and the Japan-America Society of Alabama. They included Pharmavite, a dietary supplement manufacturer in Opelika that is a subsidiary of Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and southwest Alabama carbon steel processor AM/NS Calvert, a joint venture that includes Japan’s Nippon Steel. In other recent moves, Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. completed its purchase of Birmingham’s Protective Life Corp. last year, a $5.7 billion deal. Shortly after the merger was completed, the companies announced $4.1 million in donations to medical research, education and cultural organizations in Alabama. Elsewhere, other Japanese companies are also actively contributing to their communities in Alabama. In Decatur, for example, chemical firm Daikin and Toray, maker of carbon fibers and fluorofibers, continue to grow their businesses and shape the region, said Jeremy Nails, president and CEO of the Morgan County Economic Development Association. “Every year Daikin America hosts the Daikin Festival, a free event to educate our community on Japanese culture that often boasts attendance of more than 20,000,” he said. “Daikin also donated funds to add the Daikin Amphitheater to downtown Decatur, allowing the city much-needed space for events.” “Toray is the annual title sponsor of the Dragon boat race where 75 teams compete and raise over $150,000 for the local hospital,” Nails added. Daikin added 20 jobs in 2014 amid plant expansions in Decatur and has been in a continuous growth mode since starting up in the early 1990s. Today the company has 370 employees, and this year marks its 25th anniversary in Alabama. Toray currently has 320 employees at its carbon fiber plant and 53 at its fluorofiber plant, both in Decatur. To date, Toray has invested more than $500 million in its Decatur plants. Rewarding relationship “We have gone from becoming mortal enemies to global trading partners, and together we have built two of the strongest economies in the world,” he said.Jackson, the honorary consul, said it’s remarkable to consider the current relationship between the U.S. and Japan, since the countries were on opposite sides of World War II just a few generations ago. Jackson credits Sister Cities International, a citizen diplomacy program instituted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s, with helping spur not only cultural understanding but also economic cooperation with markets around the globe, including Japan. Cities across Alabama participate in the program, and several have sister cities in Japan. Since 1999, when Honda announced plans for its auto assembly plant in Talladega County, Japanese companies have invested more than $5 billion in the state, according to Alabama Department of Commerce figures. Toyota is celebrating its 15th anniversary in Huntsville this year. The $864 million engine factory has expanded four times since its groundbreaking in 2001 and employs around 1,350 people. A recent study showed Honda’s sprawling $2 billion plant generated $6.8 billion in economic activity in the state last year. Along with its Tier 1 suppliers, the automaker is responsible for more than 43,000 jobs and 4.4 percent of the state’s total annual output of goods and services. The Alabama delegation in Tokyo included more than 30 government officials, economic development professionals and others who work in finance, manufacturing, medical technology and tourism. Regions Financial Corp. executive John Turner was co-chairman of SEUS Japan 39. The delegation took part in sessions on environmental innovation as well as investment and trade, and members networked with Japanese business and government leaders. ••• This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
