Atlanta Council on International Relations Diplomatic Dialogue with Consul General Mio Maeda

About Consul General Mio Maeda

Mr. Mio Maeda received a law degree from the University of Tokyo and joined Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1990.  As a diplomatic trainee, Mr. Maeda continued his studies at University of Oxford  and then returned to MOFA where he held various positions throughout a three-decade long career.

In 2000, he was appointed Deputy Dir, Research & Programming Division (Economic Cooperation Bureau) and then became Deputy Dir of the 2nd  Southeast Asia Division (Asian & Oceanian Affairs Bureau). Following, Mr. Maeda served MOFA as Deputy Dir of Consular Policy Division (Consular Affairs Bureau). In 2004, Mr. Maeda became Counselor at the Embassy of Japan in Italy, and two year later served the same position in Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 2009, returning to Japan was appointed Senior Coordinator of Global Issues Cooperation Division (International Cooperation Bureau). In 2011 Mr. Maeda was made Counselor for the National Policy Unit (Cabinet Secretariat) and then Minister-Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In 2014 Mr. Maeda returned to Japan to serve as Dir of the Southwest Asia Division (SE & SW Asian Affairs Dept, MOFA, Japan). In 2015, Mr. Maeda was seconded to the Imperial Household Agency and appointed Chamberlain to HIH the Crown Prince of Japan, and later as Chamberlain to HM the Emperor of Japan, until 2019. Mr. Maeda then became Minister, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Switzerland. He now joins the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta as Consul General where he serves as the Head of Mission in the Southeast United States.

Japan-Georgia Bilateral Economic Relations

Japan is one of Georgia’s leading investor nations and top trading partners. More than 400 Japanese facilities operate in the state, employing over 40,000 Georgians. In 2022, trade between Georgia and Japan totaled more than $9.7 billion, placing Japan as the state’s 6th largest market for total trade.

In 1973, the State of Georgia established economic development representation in Japan. Japan established a consular presence in Georgia the following year in 1974, and Atlanta is home to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Japan-U.S. International Relations

Japan is one of the world’s most successful democracies and largest,economies. The U.S.-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of U.S. security interests in Asia and is fundamental to regional stability and prosperity. The Alliance is based on shared vital interests and values, including: the maintenance of stability in the Indo-Pacific region: the preservation and promotion of political and economic freedoms; support for human rights and democratic institutions; and, the expansion of prosperity for the people of both countries and the international community as a whole.continually consult on foreign policy issues and global problems and share major foreign and security policy objectives.  

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