Agreement Between NJ and Japan’s Fukui Prefecture Expands

On Oct 16, 2023

Today, during the state’s economic trade mission to East Asia, Gov. Phil Murphy and Fukui Prefecture Lieutenant Governor Mr. Yasuhiro Nakamura (中村保博副知事) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that expands a partnership between the State of New Jersey and Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The agreement, signed by Murphy and Nakamura, promotes continued cooperation in the areas of education, culture, and the economy.

The partnership between New Jersey and Fukui Prefecture spans more than three decades, having been established as a friendship agreement in 1990. The MOU signed today is an expansion that promotes economic exchange, including trade, business matching, and corporate advancement. It also establishes opportunities for cultural and academic exchanges and the promotion of tourism to each region.

“This Memorandum of Understanding speaks to the fact that there has never been a better moment to invest in the future of New Jersey’s relationship with Japan,” said Murphy. “As we face a new century of challenges and opportunities, we have a historic opportunity to take our partnership to new heights. And I believe there is no better partner for Japan than New Jersey.”

“We are very pleased to confirm with Governor Murphy our mutual intention to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two prefectures,” said Sugimoto Tatsuji, governor of Fukui Prefecture. From March 2024, it will be possible to come to Fukui Prefecture from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train without having to change trains. I hope that this will be an opportunity for many people from both prefectures to come and go between each other’s regions and for exchange to become more active.”

The initial agreement signed in 1990 was based on the friendship between Kusakabe Taro and William Elliot Griffis at Rutgers College more than 100 years prior. Taro was the first Japanese student to enroll at Rutgers in the 1860s, and Griffis, his friend and tutor, helped work to advance the relationship between the United States and Japan. In addition to the statewide partnership with Fukui Prefecture, Fukui City has a sister-city relationship with The City of New Brunswick.

Reporters interested in more information on the New Jersey East Asia economic mission may contact Mahen Gunaratna ([email protected]) and Ingrid Austin ([email protected]) or visit choosenj.com/EastAsiaMission for additional details.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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