Basic Information about Louisiana
2021/5/17
Link to Basic Economic Data
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Overview
- Louisiana’s nickname, the “Pelican State”, dates back to the early days of European settlement, when pelicans were abundant and admired for how they nurture their young. Pelicans disappeared from Louisiana and the federal government later declared them endangered in 1970, under the Endangered Species Protection Act. Thanks to conservation and restoration projects, and most importantly, a ban on the pesticide DDT, the brown pelican has recovered and was removed from the endangered list in 2009. Pelicans are the official state bird and appear on both the state flag and state seal. Louisiana is also commonly referred to as the “Bayou State” because of the many such waterways found in the state.
- Louisiana is the only state to be divided into “parishes”, instead of counties, thanks in part to Roman Catholic influences on the earlier French and Spanish colonies from which the state was born.
- Louisiana’s legal system is a complex hybrid, based on both civil law and common law, making it unique among states. This dates back to the state’s history as a former colony of both France and Spain. Louisiana contract and tort law which govern laws between private parties, for example, are primarily based on civil law. Decisions are made based on adherence to the written laws. The state’s criminal code, however, is based on the common law procedures of England, which relies more heavily on precedents set by previous legal cases.
- Louisiana has a very diverse mix of cultural identities. Two of the best known, Cajun and Creole, have long and complex histories, without universally accepted definitions. Cajuns can be traced to French settlers who were expelled from present-day Canada after refusing to sign oaths of allegiance when Britain took control. Creole is a more difficult identity to categorize, but generally refers to people descended from French, African, Caribbean, Spanish, and Native American heritages. It was originally a location-based identifier adopted by people born locally to parents who came from elsewhere. Louisiana takes great pride its long, multi-cultural history.
- Louisiana falls within the Central Standard Time zone.
- By land area, Louisiana is the 33rd largest state in the nation. It about one-third the size of Japan.
- Louisiana is the 25th most populous state in the U.S. with about 4.6 million residents in 2020. Though 95% of the land is considered rural, 73% of the population resides within the remaining 5% of land that is classified urban.
Japanese Business Connections
- Since 2000, Japanese companies have invested more than $8 billion in projects that have created more than 5,300 new jobs in Louisiana.
- Shintech, a subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., opened its first PVC plant in Louisiana in 1998 and completed an expansion of the facility in 2001.Another expansion in 2016 helped to make Shintech the largest PVC producer in the world.In 2004, Shintech announced plans for another nearby facility, which has also undergone multiple expansions.Another $1.4 billion investment was delayed, but is expected to be completed late in 2021.
- Mitsui & Co, Mitsubishi Chemical, and NYK are partners in a massive export terminal, Cameron LNG, which has authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries with, or without, a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S.The $10 billion project includes three liquefaction “trains” to prepare LNG for export overseas.One of the facility’s three liquefaction trains is now owned by Mitsui & Co.A second is owned by a joint venture between Mitsubishi Chemical and NYK.In December 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy extended Cameron LNG’s long-term authorization to export LNG through December 31, 2050.
- In December 2020, Mitsubishi Chemical announced it is exploring the possibility of a new manufacturing complex in Louisiana to produce chemical building blocks for acrylic-based polymers.The possible $1 billion capital investment is undergoing a feasibility study and a final investment decision is not expected until mid-2022.
- Louisiana exports about $64 billion each year. Of that amount, about $2.7 billion is exported to Japan annually. Top exports to Japan are corn (HS1005), soybeans (HS1201), petroleum gases (HS2711), and crude oil (HS2709). Louisiana’s agricultural exports are greatly boosted by product being shipped through Louisiana ports.
- Louisiana imports more than $29 billion in products each year. Of that amount more than $550 million is imported from Japan annually. Top imports from Japan are cyclic hydrocarbons (HS2902), flat-rolled iron and steel (HS7210), electric machinery (HS8419), and iron & steel pipes (HS7304).
Representative Office in Japan supports bilateral trade & investment
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Mr. Masao Kumori |