Commerce Travels to Asia to Foster Business Relationships
In early October, Montana Department of Commerce Director Paul Green and Senior Officer for International Relations and Asia Trade Manager, Katie Willcockson traveled to both Japan and Taiwan. During their visit, they promoted Montana as a business destination and a hub for biotech by meeting with executives, attending events and collaborating with government officials. They also offered networking opportunities to nine Montana businesses traveling with them.
In Japan, the Commerce delegation, along with the accompanying businesses’ representatives, attended the BioJapan trade show, the world’s longest running biotechnology exposition. This event included booths from companies, government organizations and institutions focused on advances in agricultural biotechnology, gene therapies, personalized medicine and more. Numerous seminars and partnership opportunities facilitated direct communication and networking among participants.
According to Willcockson, each of the nine Montana companies that attended the conference reached personal networking goals by meeting with potential international partners through BioJapan’s unique partnering system. Additionally, a company that had previously attended the conference saw the payoff of its continued efforts by signing a distribution agreement to expand its business to the Asian market within the year. These international opportunities were made possible through a grant run by Commerce’s Export MT team. Businesses awarded this grant had a significant amount of their travel expenses reimbursed and received coaching on how to prepare for international networking.
Commerce's delegation, along with the accompanying businesses’ representatives, at the BioJapan trade show.
Director Green and Willcockson also met with Executive Vice President Otani of Kumamoto University while in Japan. They discussed the university’s key initiatives, focusing on its advanced research in the semiconductor fields. Following the meeting, they visited the university’s semiconductor research facilities and interacted with faculty members, making plans for future collaboration. Montana and Kumamoto have fostered a sister-state relationship since 1982, with the University of Montana, Montana State University and Kumamoto University collaborating since 1987. These partnerships are anticipated to continue facilitating growth and innovation for years to come.
Both the tradeshow and the interactions with Kumamoto University highlighted two of the current goals held by Commerce’s Business MT division. While Montana already has a strong relationship with Asia due to coal and wheat trade, the trade show allowed Commerce to showcase Montana’s growing bioscience industry, and the university visit offered insight on cutting-edge energy solutions.
Director Green further supported Commerce’s mission while in Taiwan. He met with government officials, followed up with previous trade mission activity and presented at a direct investment conference about the benefits of doing business with Montana. While observing other states’ presentations at the conference, Green noticed a common trend of focusing on statistics and transactions. This inspired him to take a different approach with his presentation. Instead, he focused on why Montana has had such success with business endeavors, explaining that Montana is a large state with a relatively small population in comparison to many Asian countries. He credited our success to our need to come together to accomplish goals, which has fostered a sense of hard work and community among Montanans. Because of his focus on relationships and root causes, his presentation garnered interest and praise from attendees at the conference.
Director Green also emphasized how much he learned from his travels. One of the first things he noticed after landing in Taiwan was the remarkably lush landscape despite the dense population. Throughout his stay, he observed ways this could be applied to Montana as it strives to maintain its rural areas while its population increases. In Japan, he interacted with members of the Japanese Coal Association and noted how they worked to create policies that benefited the industry while also protecting Japan’s landscape for future generations.
In both locations, Director Green was especially impressed and humbled by the passion individuals exhibited for Montana. In Taiwan, executives braved a typhoon to meet with him, dressed in cowboy attire and eager to talk about what Montana had to offer. In Japan, he met Montana enthusiasts who hosted festivals to celebrate our state’s culture. All interactions solidified his belief that good business relationships start with a foundation of friendship. He expressed the sentiment that Commerce’s main focus should be on relationships instead of transactions.
“It’s about relationships to me,” Green stated. “Relationships don’t happen overnight. They are earned over time, but they are so much more powerful than just transactions. Our emphasis on relationships is what makes Montana different.”
From the individual business connections made at the trade show, to the investment interest garnered in Taiwan, October’s Asia trip was a success on many fronts, but especially when measured in relationships. Director Green, Willcockson and each business representative who attended built friendships that set the foundation for many positive and beneficial business interactions to come.
Commerce would also like to extend a special thanks to the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs for arranging the Taiwan itinerary.
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