In 2020 Norman Arikawa retired from the Port of Los Angeles after serving there for 54 years. Most recently he held the position of Assistant Director for the Trade Development Division. His responsibilities included promotion of the port and development of inbound and outbound trade. He also met with foreign officials and dignitaries visiting the Port, including ICDLA’s International Visitor Leadership Program participants. He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the District Export Council of Southern California. He also served on the board of the L.A. Foreign Trade Association, the California Fashion Association, and the Los Angeles Regional Export Council.

 

Norman currently provides consulting on economic development for countries in South-East Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa. In 2022 Norman was selected by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to receive the Stanley T. Olafson Award, the region’s highest award in international trade. Norman has been actively involved in the Sister Cities program for many years. He currently serves on the boards of the Los Angeles/Nagoya Sister Cities and the Long Beach/Mombasa Sister Cities Associations.