A follow up meeting to the 2021 introduction meeting with officials from Ichihara City was held on Tuesday, December 6. City of Sidney staff members met via Zoom with representatives from Ichihara City to learn more about the Japanese community. Ichihara City is home to Mitsui Chemicals, the parent company of Advanced Composites. As such, representatives from Mitsui Chemicals and Advanced Composites served as meeting observers.
During the one-hour long meeting the Ichihara team provided a brief overview of the city and its history as well as its regional, manufacturing and agricultural efforts. Ichihara City is located approximately one hour across the Tokyo Bay from Tokyo and will be celebrating its 60th year as an incorporated municipality. It is the largest city in the Chiba prefecture. The city is currently ranked third in the nation for shipment value of manufactured products.
During the meeting, staff learned how Japanese officials are addressing a decline in population as well as an aging population. How the community is working to increase entrepreneurial activities and workforce development strategies were also discussed.
The city team will be presenting information about Sidney efforts to the Japanese delegates in June 2023.
Staff serving as City of Sidney representatives during the introduction include: City Manager Andrew Bowsher, Councilmember Steve Wagner, City Clerk Kari Egbert, Community Development Director Barbara Dulworth, Finance Officer Renee DuLaney and Public Works Director Jon Crusey.