CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, along with the with the West Virginia Department of Commerce and the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, hosted a luncheon with Japanese business leaders on Friday.
The event aimed to highlight the strong partnership between West Virginia and Japan and to explore new investment opportunities in natural gas statewide.
“Today’s luncheon marked the celebration of a shared vision between our state and Japan that has continued to foster and grow for nearly three decades. This long-term partnership continues to play a critical role in our state’s economy, as Japanese investments help strengthen our workforce and create jobs for hardworking West Virginians,” Tomblin said in part of a statement.
The luncheon’s feature segment on West Virginia’s growing shale gas industry included presentations from Kyle Mork, president of Energy Corporation of America, and James Crews, vice president of Northeast Business Development with MarkWest Energy Partners.
“Today’s economic conference highlights the strength of West Virginia’s 30 year partnership with Japan that has helped create jobs for hardworking West Virginians and helped to diversify our economy,” Manchin said. “The importance of natural gas and the Marcellus shale to West Virginia is growing and our state has a real opportunity to remain a leader in the global energy conversation. I’m confident that if we work together in a collaborative way we can continue to be an energy leader in the years ahead.”
Nearly 100 people attended, including members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from dozens of Japanese companies.