http://www.amchamokinawa.org chamber@amchamokinawa.

org TEL: (098) 898-5401 FAX: (098) 898-5411

Presidents First Word

Mr. Tony Sakuda, President Okinawas beaches are open, the weather is beautiful, and your American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa is reaching out to the community in numerous ways. In a nutshell, were engaging with many organizations, and solicit your support and assistance as we endeavor to make our Chamber better. As your president, Ive been busy attending numerous meetings and functions in response to invitations for ACCO to join hand-in-hand with events. The 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival Committee Meeting is an example; last years event drew a total of 7,363 people, including 5,317 from overseas. Vice President Lemont Whiteside and I are already committedand committing ACCOto involvement in the 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in 2016. Weve also joined forces with the Hawaii-Okinawa partnership on Clean and Efficient Energy Development and Deployment, meeting with the 4th Task Force meeting to determine how ACCO can best interface with the organizations goals. Well be presenting ideas at future ACCO events. We had ACCO members involved in the 2nd Junior Baseball Camp in Okinawa in late March, an event sponsored by the Chatan Town Sports Tourism Project. Okinawas youth are our future, and ACCO is proud to be a co-host organization. As we look to the future, a word about our March Military Commanders Panel. The turnout was excellent on your part, and we hope you found our senior military leadership presentations to be informative. Were linked to our military neighbors year-around, so anytime youve

April 2012

a question, comment or idea, please pass them to our Chamber leadership. I want to personally invite EVERY member to join ACCO for a Chamber Connection membership networking event on April 20th, 7 p.m. at the Seamens Club Naha. We will be introducing our recent new ACCO members while at the same time inviting prospective members to come and meet our officers, governors and committee chairpersons. The objective: growing and strengthening our Chamber through increased one-on-one contact with you. Chamber Connection details are elsewhere in this issue of the Colleague. See you all soon and thank you for your support. ACCO ACCO ACCO 32255 10 7,3635,317 ACCO 20166 323 4 32526 2 5 ACCO Continued on Page 5

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

The American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa

2012 Officers
President
Tony Sakuda Okinawa Tourist Service

Vice President

Lemont Whiteside American Engineering Corp.

Vice President

Justin Wentworth IV Lloyd & Heinz, Ltd.

Secretary

Mickey Weissert KDDI Okinawa Co., Ltd.

Treasurer

Richard Boudreault American Engineering Corp.

2012 Board of Governors

James Pogue, Immediate Past President Fareast Service Company Walt Christiansen United Seamens Service Hawari Habrawi Phoenix Corporation Nobukatsu Miyaguni NoBu Jarrett Ota Individual Member Bien Panganiban Ryukyu Classical Academy Ray Payne Eastern Star Corporation Joseph C. Thompson J.C. Thompson Corporation Sayaka Toyokawa Interlink Okinawa Ltd.

Past Presidents
Justin Wentworth III - 85, 88, 89 Lloyd & Heinz, Ltd. Gilbert Hoffman - 88, 94, 95 Sunabe Corporation Joseph Thompson - 96, 97, 05, 06, 07 J.C. Thompson Corporation Michael Oshiro - 98, 99 Ameku Enterprise, Ltd. Michael Kelly - 01, 02 Aladdin Trading Co. Walt Christiansen - 03, 04 United Seamens Service William Kelly - 08, 09 Trans World Assurance Company Colleague Editorial Staff Editor Mickey Weissert Layout Mickey Weissert Translations Megumi Shinjo The AmCham Colleague is published by the American Chamber of Commerce Okinawa (ACCO Okinawa), a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. ACCOkinawa, P.O. Box 235, Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan 904-8591 Phone (098) 898-5401 Fax (098) 898-5411 Office Hours 9am 5pm Mon-Fri
http://www.amchamokinawa.org

American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa

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chamber@amchamokinawa.org www.amchamokinawa.org To advertise in the Colleague Contact the American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa at (098) 898-5401 or chamber@amchamokinawa.org

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

April 2012 Guest Speaker

Marc M. Wall
Minister-Counselor Economic and Science Affairs Embassy of the United States of America, Tokyo, Japan
Marc Wall is Minister Counselor for Economic and Science Affairs in the U.S. Embassy to Japan. He departed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in July 2009 after serving eleven months as Coordinator for Economic Transition. His responsibilities included overseeing post-conflict initiatives in support of reconstruction and development in Iraq. As U.S. Ambassador to Chad from 2004 to 2007, he worked to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism, oil, and democracy in a country in the throes of an internal insurgency. He was deeply engaged in diplomatic efforts on Darfur and the international response to the needs of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons on the Chad-Sudan border. After postings early in his career in Cote dIvoire and Zimbabwe, Mr. Wall concentrated on the Far East. In assignments in Beijing and later in Taipei, he was instrumental in negotiations that led to Chinas and Taiwans accession to the World Trade Organization. In his work with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, he traveled frequently to Japan and Southeast Asia for meetings with senior Asian officials. Later he served as senior advisor to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a Congressional panel charged with assessing U.S. relations with China. His assignments in Washington have addressed key issues in U.S. economic relations with Asia, Africa, and other developing markets. He has served as special assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs, member of Secretary of State Shultzs Policy Planning Council, director of the economic offices in the Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs and of African Affairs, and economic officer in various positions in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Mr. Wall has had various fellowships and teaching positions. He has taught at Georgetown University, the City College of New York, the National Defense Universitys Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and The George Washington Universitys Program for International Studies in Asia. Mr. Wall has an AB with honors in history from Princeton University and an MIA from Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. He speaks French and some Chinese.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa

Committees
Protocol Committee
Committee Chair: Prof. Bien Panganiban

Membership Committee
Committee Chair: Justin Wentworth IV

Trade & Labor Committee / OJACC

Committee Chair: Vice Committee Chair: Joseph C. Thompson Munenori Gushiken

Financial & Tax Committee

Committee Chair: Richard Boudreault

Special Events Committee

Committee Chair: Walt Christiansen Vice Committee Chair: Rose Liggayu-Raymundo

Programs Committee
Committee Chair: Advisor: Sayaka Toyokaya James Pogue

APCAC Liaison
Committee Chair: Ray Payne

Military Liaison Committee

Committee Chair: Vice Committee Chair: Lemont Whiteside Art Arao

Constitution By-Laws
Committee Chair: Jusin Wentworth IV

Public Relations / Community Relations Committee

Committee Chair: Vice Committee Chair: Jarrett Ota Dr. Scott Goldberg

200911 200911 20042007 WTO APEC 3

Local Liaison Committee

Committee Chair: Vice Committee Chair: Sayaka Toyokawa Nobukatsu Miyaguni

Information Technology Committee

Committee Chair: Advisor: Paul Laman Mickey Weissert

Nominating Committee
Committee Chair: Hawari Habrawi

Tourism & Hospitality Committee

Committee Co-Chair: Committee Co-Chair: Committee Vice-Chair: Dennis Tortona Carl Bastian Cindy Kawaguchi

Education Committee
Committee Chair: Mike Holland

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

General Membership Meeting

20122438

March 8, 2012 For our March program we presented our annual Commanders Panel. A commander from each branch of the U.S. military on Okinawa briefed our general membership. Our guest panelists were Colonel John C. Wright, Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Installations Pacific/Camp Smedley D. Butler, Captain Richard W. Weathers, Commander, Fleet Activities, Okinawa, Colonel Lance R. Koenig, Commander,10th Support Group, Colonel Roftiel Constantine, Commander, 18th Mission Support Group, Kadena Air Base and Colonel Daniel J. Haas, Chief of Staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The presentations were very informative and important. The American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa is aware of the US military contribution to the economy of Okinawa and that any movements or changes in their policies will affect the Okinawan economy. The briefings were very helpful to get an insight of what is going on and what we can expect in the near future. The American Chamber of Commerce on Okinawa is always thankful for such support from U.S. Commanders on the island and we look forward to future briefings.

From left: ACCO President Tony Sakuda, Colonel Roftiel Constantine, Commander, 18th Mission Support Group, Kadena Air Base, Colonel John C. Wright, Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Installations Pacific/Camp Smedley D. Butler, Colonel Lance R. Koenig, Commander,10th Support Group, Captain Richard W. Weathers, Commander, Fleet Activities, Okinawa, Colonel Daniel J. Haas, Chief of Staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force,ACCO Vice President Lemont Whiteside ACCO18 C. 10 R. W. J ACCO

3 3

C. W. 10 R. 18 J

New Members

From left: Mr. Yasushi Masumoto, President, U.S. Mart Okinawa Ltd. and ACCO President Tony Sakuda US. ACCO

From left: ACCO President Tony Sakuda and Mr. Kaoru Shimabukuro, President, Okinawa Enetech Co., Inc. ACCO

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

Education Committee

From left: ACCO Member Hazuki Oshiro, Louvre Preschool, ACCO Member Masato Chinen, Okinawa International School, ACCO Education Committee Chair Mr. Mike Holland, Dr. Mikio Higa, Special Advisor, The Terrace Hotels Corporation, ACCO Member Kae Chinen, DUO International Language School, Asako Kameya, English Teachers in Okinawa ACCO ACCO ACCO ACCO

The Education Committee held its first meeting on 15 March at the Naha Terrace Hotel. Education Committee Mission Statement (draft) The American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa (ACCO) is a business organization but we recognize the educational and professional needs of Okinawa. We have made a commitment to promote and raise the level on English & IT in Okinawa as well as to make Okinawa more global and international. We are all aware that globalization progresses rapidly and English has become the number one international language in the world today. This is why the ACCO and its partnering groups, companies, organizations (for example, the US Consulate in Naha) have taken an active approach in the training and development of English & IT in 3 1 Continued from Page 1

Okinawa. Our focus is to not only provide a higher level of English, but also provide the best possible opportunities for the people of Okinawa. ACCO315 ACCO ACCO IT ACCO 4207 ACCO ACCO ACCO

U.S. Citizens and others may be required to submit two little known and little understood forms. Please see the IRS website for more information on the two forms below. Form 8938 Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets (FBAR)
Certain U.S. taxpayers holding specified foreign financial assets with an aggregate value exceeding $50,000 will report information about those assets on new Form 8938, which must be attached to the taxpayers annual income tax return. Higher asset thresholds apply to U.S. taxpayers who file a joint tax return or who reside abroad (see below). Form 8938 reporting applies for specified foreign financial assets in which the taxpayer has an interest in taxable years starting after March 18, 2010. For most individual taxpayers, this means they will start filing Form 8938 with their 2011 income tax return to be filed this coming tax filing season. Upon issuance of regulations, FATCA may require reporting by specified domestic entities. For now, only specified individuals are required to file Form 8938.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/corporations/article/0,,id=251217,00.html

Important Tax Information for U.S. Citizens

If you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, including a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly to the Internal Revenue Service by filing Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). The FBAR is required because foreign financial institutions may not be subject to the same reporting requirements as domestic financial institutions. The FBAR is a tool to help the United States government identify persons who may be using foreign financial accounts to circumvent United States law. Investigators use FBARs to help identify or trace funds used for illicit purposes or to identify unreported income maintained or generated abroad.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=148849,00.html

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

The Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) 2012 U.S.-Asia Business Summit
Over 500 people from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered at the Prince Park Tower hotel in Tokyo on March 1st and 2nd for the 2012 APCAC U.S.-Asia Business Summit, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). The summit, an annual event which invites members and guests from the 27 member-chambers of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC), is hosted each year by a different APCAC Chamber from around the region. This years summit marked the first time in 28 years that the ACCJ hosted, and attendance numbers were unprecedented. Several members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa and Consul General Raymond F. Greene attended the summit as representatives from Okinawa. His Excellency Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan, made a brief appearance on the second day of the summit, speaking to an audience of around 550. The Prime Minister spoke about the U.S.-Japan alliance and thanked the audience for the outpouring of support and assistance from both the public and private sectors of the U.S. for those affected by the tragedies last year in Tohoku. He spoke further about the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and stated that as a result of the supply chain having fully recovery, there are no barriers to doing business with Japan. The Prime Minister also encouraged economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and said, Hand in hand with the United States, we will continue to endeavor to be a cornerstone of an open and free Asia-Pacific region. Read more at http://www.apcacjapan.com/ More photos at

ACCO F 55 GE 2 2TPP TPP 32 http://jpn.apcacjapan.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChamberofCommerceinOkinawa

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChamberofCommerceinOkinawa

20123122ACCJ APCAC 2012 2127 APCAC) 28 500

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

On Sunday, 25 March, American Chamber of Commerce President Tony Sakuda welcomed childrens baseball teams from around Okinawa at the Chatan Baseball Stadium. Several veteran professional baseball players visited Okinawa for the two-day event where the children had the rare opportunity to learn baseball from real professionals. 325 2 ACCO

AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

government to open markets and ensure a level playing field. He offered the full support of the Department of State, including its network of embassies and consulates abroad, in achieving this goal. He was followed by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, who discussed the U.S. governments broad trade agenda, including the National Export Initiative (NEI); U.S. support for Russias recent accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO); the implementation of our bilateral trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama; negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement; and the new interagency Trade Enforcement Center. Tom Donohue, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, called on government to put in place realistic policies to encourage growth, including a bold trade agenda focusing on expansion of the TPP, creation of a new transatlantic trade pact with the European Union, support for the WTO and expanded free trade agreement partnerships. Africa Donald Gips, U.S. Ambassador to Spain Alan Solomont, Donna Oosthuyse (President of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa) and Jaime Malet (Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain). Moderated by Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez, this session established that successful commercial diplomacy necessitates a broad U.S. government approach that does not just mean advocating for U.S. businesses, but advocating for the U.S. way of doing business fair competition, transparent rules, and a level playing field.

Washington, DC February 21 - 22, 2012

The Secretarys Global Business

inessConference welcomed 200 representatives Conference welcomed 200 representatives of U.S. business
of U.S. business support organizations and U.S. corporations in over 110 countries to the Department of State for two days of dialogue and brainstorming on the U.S. government role in supporting American competitiveness and creating American jobs. The conference showcased the State Departments renewed commitment to being the most responsive and effective force multiplier for U.S. businesses abroad and foreign businesses looking to invest here in the United States.

U.S. corporations in over 110 countries to the Department of State for

rainstorming on the U.S. government role in supporting American

Attendees ng American jobs. The conference showcased the participated in an interactive State Departments panel featuring U.S. Ambassador to South

ing the most responsive and effective force multiplier for U.S.

An eign from interactive agendaBiden, Secretary in the United States. See Tab businessesPresident to invest here looking included remarks Vice

list.

ded remarks from Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton,

n, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Boeing CEO James

f the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue. Attendees

sions on thematic issues from intellectual property rights to creating

tnerships; and on regional issues from investing in Central Asia,

the New Silk Road to business challenges in Europe to engaging

Clinton, Commerce Secretary Bryson, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Boeing CEO James McNerney, and President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue. Attendees participated in breakout sessions on thematic issues from intellectual property rights to creating effective public-private partnerships; and on regional issues from investing in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the New Silk Road to business During the mid-morning and midchallenges in Europe to engaging emerging afternoon, attendees participated in economies in the Asia Pacific. interactive breakout sessions on a variety of Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides thematic topics. opened the conference, welcoming an A lunch in the Benjamin Franklin Room enthusiastic crowd and noting that the for conference attendees and senior level conference was about the intersection U.S. government officials included keynote of business and diplomacy. He reminded remarks from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham participants that while the private sector has Clinton and Boeing CEO James McNerney. the ability to allocate capital, it is the role of 11 Continued on Page 11
9

Asia AmCham Okinawa Colleague for 2012 final agenda. Pacific. See Tab B April the

Okinawa First Vendor Fair

Chatan Nirai Center, Wed. 18 April 2012 Please call 098-859-6237, fax 098-859-6233 or email okinawanfirst@okinawa-ric.or.jp for English language information.

4/18

() ()
098-859-6237 fax098-859-6233 E-mailokinawanfirst@okinawa-ric.or.jp 1() 24

E-mail

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9 Continued from Page 9

The Secretarys remarks outlined her vision for Jobs Diplomacy with a clear goal: just as our companies are ready to out-work, outWashington, DC innovate, 22, 2012out-compete their rivals, so we and February 21 intend to be the most effective diplomatic champions for prosperity and growth. al Business Conference welcomed 200 representatives of U.S. business The Secretary highlighted three key lines of and U.S. corporations in over 110 countries to the Department of State for action as we pursue our economic foreign and brainstorming on the U.S. government role in supporting American policy goals: first, promoting U.S. businesses reating American jobs. The conference showcased the State Departments [abroad]; second, attracting investment to being the most responsive and effective force multiplier for U.S. back to the United States; and third, leveling nd foreign businesses looking to invest here in the United States. See Tab the playing field for fair competition.
included remarks from Vice President Biden,enterprises and medium-sized Secretary Clinton,

The panel n o t e d the complementary efforts of OPIC, ExIm and USTDA, working alongside the private sector to promote exports and growth. They described their respective organizations roles in development finance (OPIC), supporting the purchases of U.S. exports (ExIm) and linking U.S. exporters to overseas development projects (USTDA). Day one concluded with a cocktail reception featuring remarks from Vice President Biden. The Vice President highlighted Americas commitment to maintaining competitiveness and supporting U.S. companies and set the stage for day two discussions.

She also reminded participants that smallare as much of Please see the following links for more a priority as the large multinationals because Bryson, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Boeing CEO James information: that is Commerce most of the jobs are in the dent of the U.S. Chamber ofwhere Tom Donohue. Attendees (http://www.state.gov/s/dmr/remarks/2012/184668.htm) United States. ut sessions on thematic issues from intellectual property rights to creating
(http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/02/184284.htm)

ntact list.

keynote delivered n the Asia Pacific. See Tab B for the final agenda. business communitys remarks to highlight the perspective on Jobs Diplomacy and the State Tom Nides opened the conference broader Economic Statecraft agenda. After /s/dmr/remarks/2012/184668.htm), welcoming an enthusiastic crowd and expressing his great appreciation for our work ence was about the intersection of business and diplomacy. He reminded to support business and exports, McNerney e the private sector has the ability to allocate capital, it is the role of suggested that we do more to implement markets and ensure aproposals generated by the Presidents the level playing field. He offered the full support of the ncluding itsExport embassies and consulates abroad, in achieving the TPP and network of Council and to advance this other multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements. McNerney also discussed the 1 importance of our ongoing efforts to reform the U.S. export control system and to further expedite visa processing for business travelers and tourists. Participants reconvened for an afternoon plenary session on What Government Can Do For Business. Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman and Commerce Secretary John Bryson opened the session by thanking State for elevating Economic Statecraft and noting that our effort supports the Presidents agenda in promoting exports, creating jobs, and supporting U.S. businesses abroad. The afternoon panel, with Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im); Elizabeth Littlefield, President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); and Leocadia Zak, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), was moderated by Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Robert Hormats.
AmCham Okinawa Colleague April 2012

te partnerships; and on regional issuesSecretary Central Asia, Following from investing in Clintons

, and the New Silk Road to business challenges in Europe to engaging remarks, Boeing CEO McNerney

Vice President of the United States, Joseph Biden and ACCO President, Tony Sakuda ACCO

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American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa

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