EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: NEVADA’S MISSION TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA
Written by: Evan Haddad, Public Information Officer
In November, GOED completed a comprehensive trade mission to Japan and South Korea, reinforcing Nevada’s global competitiveness as the agency deepened relationships that will drive future investment, job creation, and innovation across the state.
Here are three highlights from our trade mission and why they matter for Nevada:
Strengthened pathways for advanced manufacturing, alternative energy and semiconductor investment
Throughout the trade mission, GOED held high-level discussions with Japanese and South Korean leaders across the battery supply chain, semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing industries.
In both countries, GOED engaged with a dynamic mix of global players, including top corporations, early-stage companies, and investment partners whose interests align closely with Nevada’s economic priorities. Across the board, these meetings highlighted strong opportunities for collaboration, from investment to innovation and research partnerships. GOED met with dozens of companies during the trip, with many of them expressing interest in entering the U.S. market through our state.
Collectively, these engagements reflected Nevada’s strong position as a U.S. hub for lithium, critical minerals, alternative energy, and semiconductor supply chains. They also opened multiple pathways for future corporate expansion into Nevada.
Expanded high-level government, innovation, and research partnerships
Our trade mission advanced Nevada’s international network through direct engagement with prominent government and innovation leaders.
GOED met with the Incheon Free Economic Zone and its university network, World Trade Center Japan, Keidanren (Japan’s most influential business federation), and many others.
These meetings strengthened ties between GOED and these organizations, opening opportunities for research collaboration, talent development, university partnerships, and global commercialization.
GOED signs strategic MOU with South Korea’s Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
One of the big highlights from GOED’s trip
was the signing of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), South Korea’s oldest broadcaster.
This agreement positions Nevada as a destination for K-content production, K-pop concerts, festivals, and other cultural events. Leveraging Nevada’s film incentives, tourism-driven entertainment ecosystem and growing media infrastructure, the MOU creates investment opportunities for Nevada’s creative industries.
Bringing it back home
GOED’s trip made clear that international engagement represents a strategic investment in Nevada’s economic future. By opening more doors to Japan and South Korea, GOED strengthened the state’s position in industries that will define the next generation of global growth. The connections made abroad are already laying the groundwork for new investment opportunities, expanded supply-chain partnerships, and forward-looking research collaborations that directly support Nevada’s long-term competitiveness.
At the same time, the mission underscored the value of GOED’s international trade division as a bridge between Nevada and the world’s most dynamic economies.
From government agencies and top-tier research institutions to major corporations and cultural partners, the organizations that welcomed GOED signaled genuine interest in building lasting relationships with our state. Agreements like the MOU with MBC illustrate how these partnerships translate into tangible benefits, creating opportunities for Nevada businesses, enriching our creative industries, and amplifying Nevada’s global profile.
We’re excited for the next chapter of collaboration and the mutual benefits they’ll bring to all of us.
Who we met along the way
This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the generous hospitality of Japan and South Korea. The GOED team wants to thank all the representatives and organizations that met with our agency during the trade mission.
South Korea
· Office of Representative De-geol Ahn (Gwangju Metropolitan Government)
· PEN Ventures
· MBC – Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
· LG Science Park
· BSR Korea
· Innopolis Foundation
· K Enter Tech Hub
· IFEZ – Incheon Free Economic Zone
Japan
· Panasonic
· Keidanren – Japan Business Federation
· American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
· Japan External Trade Organization
· METI – Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
· World Trade Center Japan
· Tokai Konetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
· Cosmo Energy Exploration & Production Co.
· RISE-A
