Mario G. Reyes/Rafu Shimpo
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa refers to a list ranking Los Angeles as the 15th world’s largest economy. Behind him are his delegation members to Asia.

In an effort to promote trade with Asia, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will lead a delegation of city officials and business leaders to cities in China, Japan and Korea in October, he announced Wednesday.

“China, Korea and Japan accounts for approximately $125 billion yearly in two-way trade in Los Angeles,” said the mayor, noting that growth in international trade will help boost the local economy. 

The approximately 23-person delegation includes city council representives, a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Association L.A.-Long Beach, American Express, and heads

of such industrial companies as South West Moulding, Archeon Group and West Coast Metals. A full list of participants has not yet been released.

While in Japan, the mayor will visit Tokyo to discuss ways to increase travel and tourism and opportunities for Japanese film production in Los Angeles. He will also promote the ongoing “See My L.A.” campaign and discuss air quality issues with Japanese companies who currently access Los Angeles ports.

The delegation will also stop by Los Angeles’ sister city, Nagoya.

“As a third generation Angeleno, I’m not shy about selling L.A.,” the mayor said. Tourism from China, Japan and Korea accounted for approximately $524 million in direct spending last year.

Japanese visitors alone generated $347 million, making Japan the top overseas market for visitor spending, according to the mayor’s office.

Since late April, Villaraigosa has traveled to Memphis, Philadelphia, Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento and Washington, D.C., for a variety of speeches and meetings.

His most recent trip was last week to Washington, D.C., where he met with federal education officials and lobbied lawmakers for homeland security, transportation and education funding.

An estimated total cost for the 15-day trip was not available at Wednesday’s press conference.

—Additional reporting by City News Service

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