State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte To Lead Trade Mission to South Korea and Japan
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced he will lead a trade mission to South Korea and Japan with representatives from Montana’s agricultural, manufacturing, photonics, and bioscience industries.
The visit comes two years after the governor lead a trade mission to Taiwan to grow and expand trade in the region.
“Montana has shared a strong bond with Japan and South Korea forged through educational exchanges, the trade of our high-quality commodities, and our shared respect for history and cultural exchange,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montana is known for our world-class beef, wheat, and coal, and is becoming a national leader in the bioscience industry. Building on our partnership and our successful industries, I am proud to lead a delegation to deepen our relationships and strengthen our economic ties.”
The relationship between Japan and Montana is rooted in the legacy of Ambassador Mike Mansfield from Butte, the longest serving ambassador to Japan, who established Montana’s sister state relationship with Kumamoto Prefecture in 1982. In 1990, Montana opened its second Japan Trade Office in Kumamoto. Following the closure of the state’s first trade office in Tokyo in 1993, the Kumamoto office is the state’s only remaining trade office in Japan.
Korea and Japan are consistently in Montana’s top five trading partners. In 2024, Korea was the second largest trading partner, purchasing over $335 million in industrial machinery, coal, beef, and wheat, while Japan was the fourth largest, purchasing over $265 million in exports including agricultural products, wheat, and coal.
The countries have also partnered with the State of Montana through the university system. Last year, Montana had almost 900 students from overseas studying in universities.
During the trade mission, the governor will meet with federal leadership as well as with trading, agricultural, bioscience, photonics, quantum, energy, and education partners in the region.
Mako Sakaguchi serves as the official representative to the Montana Trade Office in Japan, bringing nearly 25 years of experience creating connections between the State of Montana and Japan.
The trade mission will run from October 19 to October 25, 2025.
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