Business Development and Support Division

Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui hosted Ehime Governor Tokihiro Nakamura and over 300 visitors representing officials from Ehime Prefectural Government, Uwajima City, Hawaii and Ehime youth baseball teams and parents, and Hawaii’s legislative leaders to the 10th Anniversary Sister-State Reception at Washington Place on November 22, 2013. Following the reaffirmation signing of the Hawaii-Ehime Sister State ...
Read More Hawaii-Ehime Unite at a Gala Tribute

Governor Neil Abercrombie and Governor Tokihiro Nakamura of Ehime Prefecture reaffirmed the Hawaii-Ehime Sister State agreement to mark the 10th anniversary of the special relationship that was initiated by DBEDT and established in 2003. “The Sister-State reaffirmation signing will formalize the furthering of relationships between the State of Hawaii and Ehime Prefecture in the areas ...
Read More Celebrating 10 Years of Sisterhood

There are currently about 16,000 students from Vietnam pursuing degrees from colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Of this amount, Hawaii attracts less than 1%. How can Hawaii increase the number of Vietnamese students that choose to study in the islands? DBEDT and representatives from the Study Hawaii Education Consortium recently met with a delegation ...
Read More Study Hawaii: Attracting Vietnamese Students

DBEDT’s Business Development & Support Division, along with Bank of Hawaii, hosted a delegation from the Consulate General of Vietnam to discuss trade and investment opportunities between Vietnam and Hawaii. Pictured from left to right are Betty Brow, Executive VP of Bankoh and President of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce; Richard Lim, Director of ...
Read More Vietnam Trade and Investment Delegation Visits Hawaii

Hawaii Fashion Month brought together the private sector and government to discuss the establishment of a Designer-in-Residence (DIR) Program in Hawaii fashioned after the Macy’s DIR programs in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago. Organized by DBEDT’s HI Growth Initiative that targets high-growth/high-potential entrepreneurs, the brainstorming and discussion session led by Allison Izu. Participants included Ari ...
Read More Designing a Designer-in-Residence Program

Hawaii Fashion Month culminated with the prestigious Governor’s Fashion Awards at The Modern Honolulu on October 30, 2013. Headlining the black-tie affair was Governor Neil Abercrombie, DBEDT Director Richard Lim, along with the movers, shakers and fashionistas of Hawaii’s fashion industry, to honor the past, present and future of the industry. The event also recognized ...
Read More Governor’s Fashion Award Winners Announced