CSI Leasing Hosts Congresswoman Ann Wagner to Highlight the Importance of Missouri and Japan’s Business Relationship

ST. LOUIS (October 10, 2017) – CSI Leasing, Inc. (CSI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation, recently hosted the Fall Japan Update on behalf of the Japan America Society of St. Louis, of which CSI is a corporate member. The event focused on Missouri and Japan’s Business Partnership and the in-bound, out-bound commerce between the two regions. Keynote speaker Congresswoman Ann Wagner, along with Peter Smith of Enterprise and Ken Steinback of CSI Leasing, each gave a different perspective.

Congresswoman Wagner noted that Japan is America’s fourth largest goods trading partner and has a strong presence in the Midwest. The congresswoman represents Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, which exports $45 million in goods and $99 million in services to Japan annually. She pointed out that St. Louis is on the cutting edge of progress in helping expand U.S.-Japan relations. Goods exports include chemicals, computers and electronic products, fabricated metal products, and more. The congresswoman said that more than 10,000 jobs are supported by Missouri’s exports to Japan, which total $1.3 billion. Missouri has roughly 26 Japanese majority-owned firms that employ 8,600 American workers.

“We appreciate all that our St. Louis business leaders do in cementing the U.S.-Japan trade relationship and we hope this relationship continues to grow thanks to the good work of the Japan America Society of St. Louis,” said Congresswoman Wagner.

Congresswoman Wagner has a strong commitment to Asia-Missouri relations and currently serves on the Asia and Pacific subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She also recently returned from a congressional tour of Japan, South Korea and China.

Peter Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings, Inc., touched on the importance of the Missouri-Japan outbound relationship. Smith noted that Japan has a goal to increase their tourism to 40 million visitors by 2020. “Japanese businesses are spreading their wings,” said Smith. “They are preparing for this tourism expansion, which also creates a great opportunity for Missouri’s businesses.”

The final guest speaker, CSI Leasing’s founder and chairman emeritus, Ken Steinback, explained why the relationship between Tokyo Century and CSI Leasing works so well. Steinback noted that since CSI’s inception, it has been very goal-oriented at all levels of management and sales and that made for a perfect match with Japanese-owned Tokyo Century.

“We have been fortunate to have many employees who have dedicated their entire careers to CSI,” said Steinback. “This is somewhat unusual in the U.S., but not in Japan. This was an important quality that Tokyo Century noticed early on.” Steinback also noted that CSI was very dedicated to learning the Japanese culture throughout the entire company, further enhancing the relationship.