GOVERNOR
PATRICK ANNOUNCES TRADE MISSION TO ASIA TO PURSUE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY
BOSTON
– Friday, November 15, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced he will
lead a coalition of the Commonwealth’s government and
industry leaders on a Massachusetts – Asia Innovation Partnership Mission
to strengthen the state’s partnerships with Japan, Hong
Kong and Singapore, and expand opportunities between the Commonwealth
and this region for economic development and job creation in the cleantech,
innovation, life sciences, financial services and transportation sectors.
From
December 7-17, 2013, the Innovation Economy
Mission will make stops in Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan, as
well as Singapore and Hong Kong, where the Governor and members of the
delegation will visit companies in the innovation sector, speak with various
business organizations and associations, and meet with top business and
government leaders to highlight all that Massachusetts has to offer. These
visits and meetings will focus on expanding opportunities for job creation in the life sciences, IT, water technology,
clean energy and transportation sectors and solidifying the growing
connection between Massachusetts, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“In
order for Massachusetts to create lasting growth and opportunity for our
residents, we must compete for jobs on the global playing field,” said Governor
Patrick. “This mission offers us a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our
relationships with Asia’s fastest growing economies.”
During
the course of the mission, the Governor and delegation members will meet with
top Asian government officials and business leaders, as well as their American
counterparts. The Governor will also participate in a series of sessions
focused on the Commonwealth’s innovation economy sectors, as well as the
financial services and entrepreneurship sectors. Governor Patrick will also
visit with top transportation leaders in Japan and throughout Asia to learn
more about new global technologies being pursued in transportation and how some
of those technologies may be applied in Massachusetts.
"I
hope that Governor Patrick's visit to Japan will substantively enhance the
relationship between Massachusetts and Japan as both sides strive to promote
innovation and growth in the 21st century," said Akira Muto, Consul General of Japan in Boston.
Governor
Patrick and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will also convene
Japanese industry and policy leaders in health information technology in Tokyo
to discuss collaborations and partnerships between the emerging health IT
industry sectors in each region and public policies spurring health technology
adoption in each region. The Governor and members of the delegation will also
visit the Future Urban Mobility Project in Singapore,
a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which develops
innovative pilot projects using big data analytics to address urban
transportation challenges.
“This
mission provides us with the opportunity to share Massachusetts’ thriving
entrepreneurship culture and leading technology sectors with business and
policy leaders across Asia, while helping to open new markets for technologies
made in the Commonwealth,” said Pamela Goldberg, CEO of
the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. “We are excited about the
opportunity to foster connections across key emerging technology sub-sectors,
including Big Data and eHealth.”
The
Massachusetts-Asia Connection:
In
2012, Japan had the world’s third largest gross domestic product (GDP) and was
the third largest export partner to Massachusetts, with the Commonwealth
exporting approximately $2 billion worth of goods and services to Japan. In
2012, Japan was also the Commonwealth’s 7th largest import partner, with Massachusetts importing
approximately $926.21 million worth of Japanese goods and services.
According to the Japanese Consulate, over 130 Japanese companies support over
10,000 jobs in Massachusetts and approximately 13,000 Japanese nationals make
their home in Massachusetts. Last year, Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts
Port Authority announced the first non-stop flight linking Boston and Japan via
Japan Airlines (JAL), which the Governor will fly to Japan. Since the
commencement of service, the flight has grown in popularity and continues to
deepen the connections between the Commonwealth and Japan.
The
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) maintains a strong relationship with
Japanese companies and government officials in an effort to build a strong
foundation for collaboration between the two entities. In October 2012
and 2013, the MLSC participated in BIOJapan and last year, MLSC staff joined
the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI) for a
visit with Yuji Kuroiwa, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture to discuss the
life sciences sector in Kanagawa, an area similar to Massachusetts in the life
sciences industry development. While Massachusetts companies have long had a
successful commercial presence in Japan, which is an important market for
sophisticated medical advances, the Commonwealth has recently emerged as a
favored destination for Japanese life sciences companies looking to enter the
U.S. market. Japanese life sciences companies that have opened offices in
Massachusetts in the last two years include Reprocell, Scivax and HMT. In
addition, the MLSC has worked closely with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals,
Takeda, Sony DADC and Fuji Pharmaceuticals, which are creating an expanded
presence in Massachusetts.
In
efforts to diversify its power grid with more renewable energy sources, Japan
has begun testing a floating wind farm off the coast of
Fukushima, with plans to expand the farm to 140 turbines and 1,000
megawatts. During the Mission, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
is planning meetings with the companies developing this project, mainly
Marubeni Corporation, Mitsubishi, and Hitachi, to learn best practices as Massachusetts
is a North American hub of the burgeoning offshore wind industry. Massachusetts
is home to the largest indoor wind blade testing facility in the world and has
begun the construction of the first port in the United States equipped to
handle the heavy loads associated with deploying offshore wind projects.
“Collaborations
that reach across national boundaries help Massachusetts-born companies expand
globally and help bring new ideas back home,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton.
“Massachusetts is a global leader in clean energy and this mission brings
opportunities for strengthening the economic ties between our two countries.”
Hong
Kong is the Commonwealth’s 11th largest export partner, exporting $708.9 million to the Commonwealth in
2012. Hong Kong is also a top international financial and commercial center and
a key global logistics and service hub. The
United States is the largest importer of goods and services from Hong Kong,
consuming approximately 74 percent of all the Special Administrative Region’s
exports in 2012.
Singapore
was the Commonwealth’s 16th largest
export partner and 17th
largest import partner in 2012 and is positioning itself to be Southeast
Asia’s financial, high-tech and life sciences center. A country of just under
5.5 million, Singapore has developed a highly successful free market economy
and has a strong international port operation through the Port of Singapore,
considered one of the world’s busiest ports. In an average month in 2012,
the Port of Singapore handled approximately 44.8 million tons of cargo
(compared to approximately 730,000 tons for an average month of cargo handled
in 2012 in the Port of Boston). Primary exports from Singapore include
consumer electronics and pharmaceutical products. The country is supporting a
fast growing services sector in information technology and financial services
and approximately 1,500 American companies use Singapore as a regional base for
Asian operations. In 2000, the government of Singapore identified biomedical
sciences as one of four pillars of its economy and employs several boards and
councils through which it funds and supports public and private research
initiatives and activities. These include: A*STAR, the Economic
Development Board’s Biomedical Sciences Group (BMSG), BioOne Capital and the
Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council.
Singapore
is a also global leader of water innovation
technologies. With no sources of clean, potable water, Singapore has
cultivated innovative techniques to reduce dependence on foreign water imports
– such as new approaches to treat and collect rainwater
and that transform seawater bays into freshwater. MassCEC, which launched a
water technology industry development effort this year, will convene meetings
and participate on tours with Massachusetts-based water technology business
leaders and Singapore-based innovators, to share ideas and explore business
opportunities on the Mission.
"Governor
Patrick's leadership on clean energy and water, the exceptional academic and
business resources in Massachusetts, and Singapore's demonstrated global
leadership in water Issues set the stage for a very powerful
collaboration," said Earl Jones, a
principal member at Liberation Capital in Boston,
will travel to Singapore.
"The
Massachusetts water sector is growing and I am excited to participate in
the Massachusetts Delegation to Singapore where we will engage with Governor
Patrick and Singapore water industry officials to discuss collaboration,"
said Matt Sliver, CEO at Boston-based Cambrian Innovations,
who will also travel to Singapore.
“We
look forward to discussing clean energy development with our Asian partners, as
we share common goals to grow the industry and create jobs,” said Energy and
Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “The Patrick Administration has
a history of bringing together the right people to grow a sector, and we know
that working together, the opportunity for growth in clean energy, including
wind and water innovation, is promising.”
“Massachusetts
continues to be a global hub of innovation due to our comprehensive economic
development strategy and key investments in education,” said Secretary for the
Department of Housing and Economic Development Greg
Bialecki. “This trade mission to Asia will allow the Commonwealth to
continue exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration around clean
energy, life sciences, education and transportation.”
"Asia
is home to some very innovative transportation assets," said MassDOT
Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. " I look forward to a valuable
exchange of ideas and the opportunity to develop partnerships that will result
in transportation improvements here at home."
Previous
Innovation Missions Results in Job Growth and Business Expansion:
In
March 2011, Governor Patrick led a coalition of the Commonwealth’s leaders on a
mission to Israel and the United Kingdom.
Following the mission, UK-based companies Cambridge Consultants, Sagentia and
TotalMobile announced plans to expand and add jobs in Massachusetts. Israeli
biotech firm EarlySense also announced it is adding jobs and establishing its
U.S. headquarters in Waltham. Israeli company Desalitech, Ltd., a provider of
advanced water treatment solutions, announced in December that it will be
establishing its U.S. headquarters in Massachusetts. The company will use this
location as its base for expanding its customer base and operations in U.S.
industrial water treatment markets where most manufacturing plants require
purified water for their operations.
In
December of 2011, Governor Patrick led a trade mission to Brazil and Chile focused on creating jobs in the life
sciences, IT, clean energy and education sectors and solidifying the already
strong Massachusetts-Brazil connection. During the trade mission to Chile and
Brazil, Governor Patrick signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera that expands
collaboration between Massachusetts and Chile in the areas of clean energy,
biotechnology and education; participated in EMC’s
groundbreaking of a new Big Data facility at Federal University in Rio
de Janeiro; announced an agreement between Massachusetts-based Akamai and Sky Brasil, a Brazilian television
subscription company, to bring online video rental services to the country; and
announced an academic exchanges program between faculty and students from
Brazilian and American Universities, including the University of Massachusetts
system.
In
February 2013, Governor Patrick led a trade mission to Colombia
to promote job creation and expand economic opportunity and partnerships
with Latin America. As part of that mission, Governor Patrick and President of the Republic of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize collaboration between
Massachusetts and Colombia in the areas of science, technology and innovation,
including in the life sciences, digital technology and clean energy industries.
Last year, the United States signed a free trade agreement with Colombia,
opening up an estimated $1.1 billion market for U.S. exports.
In
October, Governor Patrick traveled to Canada,
participating in several business roundtables and meetings with top business
leaders in the innovation economy sectors to foster opportunities for
collaboration between Massachusetts and Canadian businesses. Governor Patrick
also delivered the keynote address at the Canada Wind Energy Association
(CanWEA) conference, promoting the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector
as a market open for business. In Toronto, the Governor participated in a
tourism industry event sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and
Tourism; and in Montreal, the Governor addressed a group of top Canadian
business and academic leaders at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations to
discuss opportunities for mutual partnership and growth in key sectors between
Massachusetts and Canada.
Official
Delegation for the Massachusetts-Asia Innovation Economy Mission:
Governor
Deval Patrick
Secretary
Greg Bialecki, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
Secretary
Rick Sullivan, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Secretary
Rich Davey, MassDOT
Susan
Windham-Bannister, PhD, President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Pamela
Goldberg, CEO, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Alicia
Barton, CEO, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Richard
Elam, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of International Trade &
Investment
負責老師，艾克頓中文學校的楊新星表示，66名學生中，參加一級考試的有15人，二級3人，三級17人，四級31人。年齡最小的考生還不到6歲。
麻州大學波士頓分校孔子學院中方院長劉成運表示，為社區提供漢辦的標準化漢語考試，包括YCT和HSK考試，是該院今年的服務重點之一。他指出，YCT考試不止可以讓考生和家長瞭解考生的漢語能力，已達到什麼程度，藉以確定下一步努力方向，還可藉以申請獎學金，報讀夏令營。各學校也可用以做為漢語教學的參考數據。
