Gov. Doug Burgum led a delegation of North Dakota officials and business representatives on a weeklong trade and investment mission to Japan last week, highlighting the state’s many trade, investment and business opportunities in a presentation to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and promoting the state during a reception with Japanese businesses at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Tokyo.
Gov. Burgum and Sumitomo Corp. President and CEO Masayuki Hyodo on Friday celebrated the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State of North Dakota and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA), creating a partnership to evaluate and develop businesses within the energy transition market with the intent to accelerate decarbonization in North Dakota and beyond.
“By bringing together our expertise in agriculture and energy production, we can create a world-class hydrogen hub and do even more as states to feed and fuel the nation and the world,” Burgum said. “We are grateful to these states and their governors for their participation, collaboration and shared interest in American energy production, U.S. energy security, job creation, economic development and environmental stewardship. North Dakota is pleased to help lead these efforts as part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy and our focus on innovation over regulation to meet our nation’s changing energy needs.”
“We are excited to welcome Art back to Team ND; early in his career he served as WSI’s public relations manager,” Burgum said. “Art brings extensive leadership and external relations experience to the role along with firsthand experience as a team member and customer of WSI. We look forward to Art rejoining Team ND and his leadership at WSI.”
