Serving the Business Community in Okinawa Since 1953

January 2016January 2016

2016

2

President’s First Word

2016 promises to be a year of great opportunity for Okinawa and our ACCO members with an expanding economy and growth expected across a number of industries and services, most notably tourism. Okinawa is a tourism hot spot!

We are enjoying a steady growth in international visitor arrivals, supported by the government's tourism promotional campaigns, visa deregulation, favorable exchange rates and an increase in flights and cruise ships. The total number of visitors to Okinawa is expected to top 10 million by 2021, with 2 million from international markets largely comprising tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China and Korea. The number of domestic visitors is also growing and when the second runway at Naha Airport is completed in 2020, the increased capacity is projected to boost the growth of domestic arrivals from 1% to 7% annually. Additionally the outlook for construction, IT and logistics looks optimistic and business sentiment is high. 2016 is indeed a year of opportunity.

It remains ACCO's mission to facilitate an environment for current and prospective American businesses to flourish in Okinawa and we have a number of strategic priorities to ensure we capitalize on the current market condition.

Firstly, strengthening partnerships and continuing to build on strong relationships with our business and local communities, government bodies, educational institutions and fellow organizations. These mutually beneficial relationships provide support for our businesses and create opportunities for us all.

We will continue to represent and lobby for the interests of our members and the American business community to improve opportunities for trade, commercial and educational growth, and capitalize on the current economic conditions.

We will focus on education, opening dialogues and sharing relevant information, with a series of guest speakers at our General Membership Meetings, workshops tailored to business needs and facilitating English internships.

We will provide resources and expand a support network for new American businesses seeking to enter the Okinawan market.

2016 promises to be an exceptional year and our Officers, Board of Governors and Committee Chairs look forward to serving our members and to continuing to foster strong relationships with the many businesses, organizations, local governments and community partners in Okinawa. As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions and look forward to working closely with you for a very successful year!

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Rachel Davidson, ACCO President

AmCham Okinawa Colleague – January 2016

Happy New Year and warm greetings as we begin 2016! This is the first time for me to communicate with you as president of ACCO and I would like to express my best New Year wishes to you all. We have a very exciting year ahead of us and I am looking forward to working closely with you to maximize opportunities for ACCO members and our American business community.

2016 ACCO Officers and Board of Governors2016年度在沖米国商工会議所役員・理事

Mr. Reggie Estes

Mr. Brian Wallace

AmCham Okinawa Colleague – January 2016 3

Mr. Tony Sakuda

Mr. Carl Bastian Ms. Yumiko IchikawaMr. Joseph Dowd

Mr. Jarrett Ota

Dr. Ray WelchMs. Rachel Davidson

Immediate Past President

Ms. Cindy Kawaguchi

Mr. Justin Wentworth

Mr. Justin Wentworth III

Mr. Tony Sakuda

AmCham Okinawa Colleague – January 20165

Mr. Gilbert Hoffman Mr. Joseph Thompson

Mr. Michael Oshiro

Mr. James PogueMr. William Kelly

Mr. Walt Christiansen Mr. Michael Kelly

Mr. Justin Wentworth IV

The AmCham Colleague is published by the American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa (ACCO), a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.

American Chamber of Commerce in OkinawaP.O. Box 235, Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan 904-8691TEL: (098) 898-5401 | FAX: (098) 898-5411 | chamber@amchamokinawa.orgOffice Hours 9am – 5pm, Monday-Friday (Except Holidays)

American Chamber of President’s

See More Photos At:

Commerce in OkinawaBall 2015

www.flickr.com/photos/amchamokinawa

Mr. Michael OshiroAmeku Enterprise, Ltd.

有限会社　天久エンタープライズ

Mr. Bjorn CourageANA INTERCONTINENTAL Manza Beach Resort

ANAインターコンチネンタル万座ビーチリゾート

Ms. Louanne TakahashiDelta Air Lines

デルタ航空

Ms. Rachel DavidsonHilton Okinawa Chatan Resort

ヒルトン沖縄北谷リゾート

Mr. Hideki TairaIVANO Corporation

株式会社イバノ

Mr. Joseph C. ThompsonJ.C. Thompson Corporation

J・C・トンプソン株式会社

Mr. Heitaro TairaMakiminato Kensetsu Co., Ltd.

牧港建設株式会社

Mr. Masahide ToguchiMasa Zoen

マサ造園

Mr. Kimiharu SakamotoOkinawa Marriott Resort & Spa

オキナワマリオットリゾート＆スパ

Mr. Yutaka KuramotoMoon Ocean GINOWAN HOTEL & RESIDENCE

ムーンオーシャン宜野湾ホテル＆レジデンス

Mr. Takuya ShimamuraHotel Nikko Alivila

ホテル日航アリビラ

Mr. Jun YoshieThe Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa

ザ・リッツカールトン沖縄

Mr. Kazutaka FujimoriRoy's Okinawa

ロイズ沖縄

Ms. Cindy KawaguchiSHIGIRA RESORT

シギラリゾート

Mr. Chii-Cherng SuTaipei Economic and Cultural Office in Japan, Naha Branch

台北駐日経済文化代表処那覇分処

Mr. Yukinobu KokubaTHE TERRACE HOTELS CO., LTD.

ザ・テラスホテルズ株式会社

Mr. Yuki SekiyaUnited Airlines

ユナイテッド航空

Mr. Hiroyuki MichiueLoisir Hotel Naha

ロワジールホテル那覇

Mr. Junichiro Shiratsuki

Kafuu Resort Fuchaku CONDO･HOTEL

カフー リゾート フチャク コンド・ホテル

Mr. Michael KellyAladdin Trading Co.

アラジン貿易　合名会社

AmCham Okinawa Colleague – January 20168

Orion Breweries, Ltd. – Bronze Corporate Sponsor

オリオンビール株式会社

2015 ACCO President’s Ball Sponsors and DonorsThank you all for your generous contributions

Sponsors

Donors

Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc. – Bronze Corporate Sponsor

沖縄電力株式会社

China Airlines Okinawa Branch Office

チャイナエアライン沖縄支店

2016 Chambers of Commerce Business Conference

Dates: Venue:

Asia-Pacific Council of American

April 13-15, 2016 Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel

Register at: https://amcham.eventbank.cn/event/4560Special conference hotel rates available on a limited basis

Contact the ACCO Office for more information on the APCAC Business Summit

ACCO Members are invited to join the delegation to the 2016 APCAC Business Conference. This year’s conference will bring together business, policy, diplomatic, government, and media leaders for two days of important and incisive discussion on China’s Asia Pacific engagement and its implications for American business.

Challenges and opportunities affecting US business in East Asia, the future of Asia as a financial hub, China's regional engagement and One Belt, One Road initiative, and the regional trading environment are just some of the important themes and issues that will be examined on April 14. April 15 will be a deep-dive into more China-specific issues including leveraging corporate and government relations, China’s economic outlook and the 13th Five-Year Plan, and China’s economic slowdown.

The launch of AmCham China's 18th Annual White Paper on American Business, a 'Meet your Embassy' reception, and a gala dinner to celebrate AmCham China's 25th anniversary are just some of

Who Else Will Be There?

Special Events

Conference Themes

- Over 300 business leaders, and government and corporate affairs practitioners from across the Asia Pacific business community and U.S. chambers of commerce in the region

- Senior U.S. government policymakers, advisors and government officials- Senior central and local Chinese government officials (including MOFCOM, NDRC, MOFA,

MOCA, CCPIT)

- April 13: ‘Meet Your Embassy’ reception with United States Ambassador to China, Max Baucus at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing (TBC)

- April 14: AmCham China 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner- April 15: 2016 Launch of the annual AmCham China White Paper (18th Edition)

Day 1, April 14: A Focus on Asia- China’s Regional Engagement including the AIIB, the China Development Bank, and the One

Belt, One Road initiatives- The State of the Asian Economy, The Regional Trade and Policy Environment, and the Trans

Pacific Partnership- Opportunities and areas of growth in the region including: sustainable business models and the

rise of social entrepreneurship empowering Asia’s female workforce; and the Asia Pacific as a services hub (To Be Confirmed)

Day 2, April 15: Day 2: A Focus on China- The Chinese Economic and Policy Outlook- A Deep Dive: The 13th Five Year Plan- Best Practice: Government Relations and Corporate Affairs in the New Normal

AmCham Okinawa Colleague – January 2016 11

Upcoming Events

February ACCO General Membership MeetingOur February General Membership Meeting’s guest speaker will be Mr. Hitoshi Abe, President, Light Rail Corporation. He will discuss ideas to relieve traffic on Okinawa using mass transportation that is currently in place on Okinawa and new technology that could be used to reduce congestion on Okinawa’s roads. Please join us for this exciting presentation.

28th ( ) 6:00pm - Education Committee Meeting (3F Gourmet Food Area near Crocs)

5th (Fri) 11:30am - ACCO General Membership Meeting (Laguna Garden Hotel)

5th (Fri) 1:30pm - Special Events Committee Meeting (Laguna Garden Hotel after GMM)

11th (Thu) 12:00pm - Trade Committee Meeting (J.C. Thompson Office)

18th ( ) 6:00pm - Education Committee Meeting (3F Gourmet Food Area near Crocs)

Thu

4th (Thu) - Tourism & Hospitality Committee Meeting (Laguna Garden Hotel)

Thu

January

February

http://www.amchamokinawa.orgACCO American Chamber of

Commerce in Okinawa

www.facebook.com/AmericanChamberofCommerceinOkinawa

above at (098) 898-5401 or chamber@amchamokinawa.orgPlease RSVP with the Chamber Office if attending events listed