The Japanese subsidiary of MGM Resorts International, MGM Resorts Japan, has joined the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to a report by the Nikkei, the company’s membership was approved on 15 October with CEO of MGM Resorts Japan, Ed Bowers, stating, “We want to actively build relationships with local companies.”
MGM and its local partner Orix were named as Osaka’s preferred partner in September to develop an integrated resort on Yumeshima island pending approval from the central government next year.
Hiroshi Ozaki, Chairman of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at the time that, “Preparations for an IR facility in Osaka are truly underway. I hope that the cooperation of MGM Resorts International and ORIX as the selected operator for Osaka prefecture and city will now proceed with the application for an area development plan to the central government to make an Osaka IR facility become a reality.”
He added, “In order for IR to become an important mechanism to support Osaka’s growth as an international city, the operator along with Osaka prefecture and city will appropriately maintain and renew the facility and I hope they will achieve the highest international IR standards that will attract domestic and overseas tourists.
“I hope that the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also cooperate to overcome the pandemic and build a new, accelerated trajectory to the future with the Expo to the Osaka and Kansai economy.”
The addition of MGM Resorts Japan to the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents another positive step forward for Osaka’s business community.
Osaka, Wakayama and Nagasaki are the three prefectures set to submit bids to the central government by the April 2022 deadline. Under Japan’s IR Promotion Bill, the government can issue up to three IR licenses but is not obligated to issue all three, or to issue any.
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