Conferment Ceremony in Cerebration of Honorary Consul in New Orleans Donna D. Fraiche (Aug. 19th)

　On August 19, 2019, Consul-General Hiroyuki Kobayashi presided over a conferment ceremony and reception for Honorary Consul Donna D. Fraiche, recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The event was held at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion thanks to the hospitality of Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards. In his congratulatory remarks, Consul-General Kobayashi thanked Honorary Consul Fraiche for her longstanding dedication to promoting strong Japan-U.S. relations in Louisiana, including representing the consulate at events, assisting Japanese residents in the state, and maintaining and creating relationships in the Japan-America community. In her remarks, Honorary Consul Fraiche thanked various partners in her work and emphasized the importance of the Japan-U.S. partnership to Louisiana's economic and community development. Other speakers who praised Honorary Consul Fraiche's work and the Japan-Louisiana relationship included Mr. Ed Webb, President of the World Trade Center of New Orleans; the Honorable Vincent Sciama, Consul-General of France in Louisiana and Dean of the Louisiana Consular Corps; Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome; Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Rebekah Gee; and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson. Governor John Bel Edwards delivered a toast highlighting the benefits of the Japan-Louisiana partnership.