ACA Leads Economic Development Delegation in Asia
Mount Fuji Japan

ACA logo. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Global Tech Collaboration

The Arizona Commerce Authority will lead an economic development and innovation delegation to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan from May 27 to June 3. The trip builds on Arizona’s record international investment activity and growing role in the global technology sector. ACA leaders will meet with government, business, academic, and innovation stakeholders in Tokyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, Seoul, Taipei, and Kaohsiung City. The Taiwan portion of the mission will also include 20 Arizona partners focused on strengthening international relationships and expanding economic opportunities.

PHOENIX, AZ (May 26, 2026) — Building on record international activity and historic foreign investments, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), will lead an economic and innovation-focused delegation to Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan from May 27 through June 3. The visit underscores Arizona’s accelerating international momentum and the state’s expanding leadership in the global technology ecosystem.

The delegation will begin in Tokyo and Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan before traveling to Seoul in the Republic of Korea. For the final leg, the ACA will be joined by 20 Arizona partners in Taipei and Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, for meetings with government, business, academic, and innovation leaders.

In Tokyo, the ACA will meet with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and JETRO to strengthen collaboration around investment, trade, and semiconductor supply chains. The agency will also engage with Plug and Play Japan, Tokyo Innovation Base/Cambridge Innovation Center, and the Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK‑J) to expand partnerships in startup acceleration, university collaboration, and biotech innovation.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, the ACA will meet with regional innovation and startup leaders, as well as Vice Governor Shingi Takeuchi, and visit Kumamoto’s growing semiconductor hub—including Mitsui Fudosan’s Science Park.

In Seoul, the ACA will meet with global technology leaders and participate in the Arizona x Korea Innovation Launchpad – a seminar connecting Korean innovators with Arizona’s ecosystem.

In Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, the delegation will meet with Mayor Chi mai Chen; visit the Kaohsiung Smart Transportation Center; participate in a sister city signing ceremony formalizing a new partnership between Southern Arizona and Southern Taiwan; and participate in the opening of COMPUTEX — one of the world’s most significant technology and semiconductor showcases.

“Arizona’s partnerships with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan continue to grow with a shared commitment to advancing innovation, economic growth, and workforce excellence,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “This delegation visit will further strengthen collaboration with leaders in each region—strengthening ties in growing sectors such as semiconductors, innovation, and advanced manufacturing.”

Sponsor Members

About Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries.

Share...

Sponsor Members

Receive Metro Phoenix Business News in your email...
✔ Weekly Updates     ✔ Local Insights      ✔ No SPAM

Tag Cloud

Add as a preferred source on Google
Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map

Cyclic Materials opened its first commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in @cityofmesa, strengthening the domestic supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals. The company invested more than $30 million in the 144,000-square-foot facility, which will initially create more than 25 jobs. The plant can process up to 25,000 metric tons of end-of-life products containing magnets each year. Cyclic Materials will recover rare earth magnet concentrate through its Mag-Xtract™ process, along with critical materials such as copper, aluminum and steel. Federal, state and local leaders joined company executives to celebrate the facility’s grand opening. #cyclicmaterials #silicondesert #mesaaz #advancedmanufacturing #metrophx
Heritage Park (@heritageparkgilbert), a new mixed-use destination taking shape in (@downtowngilbertaz) Gilbert’s Heritage District, has announced its first five tenants. The lineup includes Arizona’s first Popup Bagels (@popupbagels), along with La La Land, Hudson House, Salt & Straw, and @solidcore. Construction continues across the development, with the first businesses expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. #gilbertaz #heritagedistrict #heritagepark #townofgilbert #metrophx
Scottsdale-based @barrett_jackson has launched Digital Select Auctions, a premium online marketplace for curated collector vehicles. The platform allows enthusiasts worldwide to bid during exclusive, timed digital auctions. Barrett-Jackson will oversee each transaction, including holding the money and vehicle title, to provide buyers and sellers with greater confidence. The company will also verify completed sales and apply its auction expertise to the process. The first Digital Select Auction will run Nov. 5-12 at Barrett-Jackson.com. #barrettjackson #autoauction #automobilia #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
The Metro Phoenix housing market continues to earn national recognition, with five Valley cities ranking among the country’s 50 best real estate markets, according to a new @wallethub analysis. The Best Real Estate Markets 2026 report determines the best local real estate markets in the U.S. WalletHub compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 17 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. The study places Gilbert at 13, followed by Surprise at 27, Peoria at 42, Tempe at 46 and Chandler at 50.
#metrophx #realestatemarket2026 #gilbertaz #surpriseaz #peoriaaz
Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
@wallethub has released its 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent report, ranking more than 180 U.S. cities to help renters identify the nation’s top housing markets. The study places @scottsdaleazgov (No. 1), @gilbertyourtown (2), and @cityofchandler (3) at the top of the rankings, with @peoriaazcam (6), @cityofmesa (16), @glendaleaz (17), @cityofphoenixaz (19), and @tempegov (25) also earning spots among the nation’s 25 best cities for renters. #wallethub #houserental #eastvalleyaz #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom! Happy Independence Day and Cheers to a great, safe weekend. #250 #4thofjuly #usa🇺🇸 #250yearsoffreedom #metrophx
Cyclic Materials opened its first commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in @cityofmesa, strengthening the domestic supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals. The company invested more than $30 million in the 144,000-square-foot facility, which will initially create more than 25 jobs. The plant can process up to 25,000 metric tons of end-of-life products containing magnets each year. Cyclic Materials will recover rare earth magnet concentrate through its Mag-Xtract™ process, along with critical materials such as copper, aluminum and steel. Federal, state and local leaders joined company executives to celebrate the facility’s grand opening. #cyclicmaterials #silicondesert #mesaaz #advancedmanufacturing #metrophx
Heritage Park (@heritageparkgilbert), a new mixed-use destination taking shape in (@downtowngilbertaz) Gilbert’s Heritage District, has announced its first five tenants. The lineup includes Arizona’s first Popup Bagels (@popupbagels), along with La La Land, Hudson House, Salt & Straw, and @solidcore. Construction continues across the development, with the first businesses expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. #gilbertaz #heritagedistrict #heritagepark #townofgilbert #metrophx
Scottsdale-based @barrett_jackson has launched Digital Select Auctions, a premium online marketplace for curated collector vehicles. The platform allows enthusiasts worldwide to bid during exclusive, timed digital auctions. Barrett-Jackson will oversee each transaction, including holding the money and vehicle title, to provide buyers and sellers with greater confidence. The company will also verify completed sales and apply its auction expertise to the process. The first Digital Select Auction will run Nov. 5-12 at Barrett-Jackson.com. #barrettjackson #autoauction #automobilia #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
The Metro Phoenix housing market continues to earn national recognition, with five Valley cities ranking among the country’s 50 best real estate markets, according to a new @wallethub analysis. The Best Real Estate Markets 2026 report determines the best local real estate markets in the U.S. WalletHub compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 17 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. The study places Gilbert at 13, followed by Surprise at 27, Peoria at 42, Tempe at 46 and Chandler at 50.
#metrophx #realestatemarket2026 #gilbertaz #surpriseaz #peoriaaz
Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map