On her second day of activities in Japan, the Governor of Guanajuato, Libia García, held a working meeting with the Governor of Hiroshima, Hidehiko Yuzaki, where they agreed to promote a cooperation agenda in the areas of Economy, Tourism, and Culture.
The state leader reaffirmed the strong 11-year friendship between Guanajuato and Hiroshima, expressing the desire to further strengthen these strategic ties. During the meeting, the Secretary of Economy of Guanajuato, Claudia Cristina Villaseñor Aguilar, presented various proposals for the integration of global value chains through a Hiroshima-Guanajuato Supplier Fair, as well as an International Professional Internship Program for young Guanajuato residents in Hiroshima companies.
Other notable initiatives include the creation of a Japan-Mexico Microcredentials Platform, a Guanajuato-Hiroshima Business Bridge to promote exports and investments, and a Sustainable Smart Cities exchange program.
The Secretary of Economy also proposed a Business Opportunities Platform and a Bilateral Business Laboratory.
In the cultural sphere, Secretary Lizeth Galván Cortés presented the Guanajuato-Hiroshima Creation Platform, which will promote artistic exchange, residencies, and access to creative spaces. This platform includes two biennials (Arts and Crafts, and Cultural Cuisine), the Mazda Design Award, and a graphic design workshop inspired by the rock art of Arroyo Seco.
For her part, the Secretary of Tourism and Identity, María Guadalupe Robles León, detailed a seven-line program of action to strengthen tourism twinning, including gastronomic exchange, wine promotion, a service model for Japanese tourists, joint outreach campaigns, participation in fairs, and the organization of trade missions.
The Governor emphasized the deep fraternal ties that unite Guanajuato with Japan, especially with the Japanese community residing in the state, which numbers more than 2,100 citizens. She highlighted the importance of the Japanese Consulate General in León and the significant Japanese investment in Guanajuato, which amounts to $8.989 billion and has created more than 48,000 jobs.
During the day, the governor participated in the traditional Hiroshima Flower Parade, where she greeted citizens and laid a wreath at the Memorial Monument in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb, presenting drawings alluding to peace created by Guanajuato children. Guanajuato also participated in the parade with a stand of folk art and cardboard workshops.
Finally, the governor met with Guanajuato students studying in Hiroshima and participated in the opening of the art exhibition “The Landscape and Tradition of Guanajuato” at the Prefectural Cultural Center. The day concluded with a dinner with Governor Yuzaki and the President of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly.
Source: milenio
