Mayor Franklin and the Chamber business delegation set the Asia mission into full swing on Tuesday with a series of events at their first stop—Fukuoka, Japan. Having recovered from the long journey from Atlanta, the delegation started the day with a business seminar sponsored by the City of Fukuoka.

The business seminar was an opportunity for the delegation to network with the Fukuoka business community and promote Atlanta as a leading global business center.

The delegation then headed to City Hall, where the Honorable Horishi Yoshida, mayor of Fukuoka, hosted Mayor Franklin and the business delegation before taking everyone to a lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant for an eight-course meal.

Hans Gant, senior vice    president of economic    development for the Metro    Atlanta Chamber of    Commerce, and Mayor    Franklin are treated to an    authentic Japanese meal.

The delegation continued the day with a city tour of Fukuoka also hosted by Mayor Yoshida’s office. Mayor Franklin and the delegation visited the 700-foot high Fukuoka Communications Tower overlooking the bay.

Doug Blissit (left), vice president of public affairs for Delta Air Lines; Nancy Quan-Sellers, vice president of Brokerage Galaxy Partners, Inc.; Kevin Fletcher, vice president of community and economic development for Georgia Power Company, and Mayor Franklin enjoy the view from Fukuoka Tower.

After visiting the Fukuoka Tower, Mayor Franklin and the delegation proceeded to the Fukuoka Atlanta Park at Island City. Island City is one of Fukuoka’s economic development projects similar to Atlanta’s Atlantic Station with residential, office space and retail located together on reclaimed land from the ocean. The City of Fukuoka has a practice of naming its parks after its Sister Cities.

Hans Gant (left), senior vice president of economic development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Wayne Reece, president of Reece and Associates; Sue Renfroe of Panasonic and a member of the Fukuoka Sister City Committee; Sachi Koto, CNN anchor and also a member of the Fukuoka Sister City Committee, and Mayor Franklin enjoy the tour of the Fukuoka Atlanta Park at Island City.

The delegation capped off its first full day with a reception and dinner hosted by Mayor Yoshida at the Nishitetsu Grand Hotel. The reception offered another opportunity for the delegation to meet the Fukuoka business community.

During the reception, Mayor Franklin received a bouquet of flowers from a member of the Youth Exchange Program between Atlanta and Fukuoka.

Our next update will be on Wednesday, April 25, as the delegation moves to Tokyo.

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