Business Development and Support Division

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT DIVISION

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA
DIRECTOR

DENNIS T. LING
ADMINISTRATOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2023

Japan is Open for Hawai‘i Business!
Join the Hawai‘i Pavilion at the Tokyo International Gift Show

HONOLULU – The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is recruiting Hawai‘i companies to promote and sell Hawai‘i-made products at the Autumn 2023 Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS). This will be the twelfth consecutive year that DBEDT is organizing a Hawai‘i Pavilion at TIGS, to be held from September 6-8, 2023, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight). TIGS is the largest international trade show in Japan drawing 200,000 buyers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to meet exhibitors at more than 4,500 booths.

“Hawai‘i’s brand is known throughout the world and especially in Japan. There continues to be a growing demand for new and authentic Hawai‘i-made products,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. “Through TIGS, Hawai‘i exhibitors will have an opportunity to share their products with buyers and distributors and have a chance to expand their distribution in Japan. The aspirational value of the Hawai‘i brand is priceless in the global economy.”

“Hawai‘i companies that participated in last year’s show achieved more than $5 million in export sales, even though Japan wasn’t fully open and recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Buyers at TIGS know that Hawai‘i will be featured each year and look for our pavilion,” said Dennis Ling, administrator of DBEDT’s Business Development and Support Division. “Distributors, retailers and importers realize that the Hawai‘i brand is becoming more established and recognized for its quality and uniqueness in the Japan market.” 

Registration for a full booth is $1,500. Deadline to apply is May 26, 2023. 

The Hawai‘i Pavilion at TIGS is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). The Hawai‘i Pavilion at TIGS is part of a series of initiatives DBEDT has undertaken to increase the export of Hawai‘i’s products. For more details, please visit https://invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/histep/.

Export-ready Hawai‘i companies interested in participating in the 2023 Tokyo International Gift Show can learn more and register at the following links:  

TIGS page: https://invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/tokyo-international-gift-show-tigs/

TIGS application: https://invest.hawaii.gov/2023-tokyo-international-gift-show-application/

About the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)
DBEDT is Hawai‘i’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawai‘i economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawai‘i’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments, and promotes innovation-sector job growth.

About the Business Development and Support Division (BDSD)
The Business Development and Support Division of DBEDT promotes industry development and economic diversification by supporting existing and emerging industries in Hawai‘i and by attracting new investment and businesses to the state. Learn more at: https://invest.hawaii.gov/.

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Media Contacts:

Laci Goshi
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism 
(808) 587-9006
lacianne.a.goshi@hawaii.gov

Dennis Ling
Business Development & Support Division Administrator
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
dennis.t.ling@hawaii.gov