Business news

MINSK, 10 May (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Japanese economic forum opened in Tokyo on 10 May, BelTA learned from the National Agency of Investment and Privatization.

The event is held with the aim of enhancing investment and regional cooperation with Japan. “During the forum Belarus presented its investment opportunities, the industrial park Great Stone, the Belarusian pharmaceutical industry, the free economic zone Mogilev, the Japanese-Belarusian industrial zone and other investment projects in mechanical engineering, electric car manufacturing and high-tech medical equipment,” the NAIP informed. The key speakers were Belarus’ Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko, JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi, NAIP Acting Director Denis Meleshkin.

“Japan is an important partner for Belarus. We attach great importance to the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly in investment. The presence of representatives of Japanese companies, industry associations and business associations confirms that there is an interest in Belarus. This creates a good basis for the further intensification of contacts at the intergovernmental and international level that will help make the interaction between businessmen of the two countries more systemic,” Denis Meleshkin said.

The forum participants got familiar with the prospects for interaction with Japanese companies in the fields of information and telecommunication technologies, automation and robotics, production of electric vehicles and components, investment cooperation. The examples of successful business cooperation between Belarus and Japan were presented by Toshihiko Tanaka, President & Managing Director, Socionext Europe GmbH, President of Toshin Kogyo Shiro Suzuki, head of Takeda Pharmaceuticals Belarus Koki Sato.

Business meetings were held with representatives of Japanese companies and business associations. The organizers and participants of the forum also met with the members of the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Japan-Belarus.

The Belarusian-Japanese economic forum will continue in Osaka on 11 May.

Participants are set to visit the Kansai Electric Power Company, get acquainted with the preparations for EXPO-2025. The program also includes the regional meeting Mogilev Oblast - Osaka Prefecture, a business matchmaking event, B2B meetings, presentations of the smart city project by the Japanese company Socionext, and a speech of the Chukan Butsu president.

Representatives of the Belarusian pharmaceutical industry are planning to sign memoranda of cooperation with Japanese companies. Setting up joint ventures with Japanese or foreign investment may be also on the agenda.

The Belarusian delegation comprises representatives of the Healthcare Ministry, NAIP, the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee, the FEZ Mogilev, the industrial park development company, Belarusian enterprises. On behalf of Japan the forum is attended by representatives of more than 10 companies including Kawasaki, Mitsubishi Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chukan Butsu, Shionogi Pharma, Ono Pharma, Assentia Holdings, МНPS, Argentum Bullet Consulting, Global Media Corporation.

The forum has been organized by the Belarusian Embassy in Japan, the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee, the Belarusian National Agency of Investment and Privatization, with the support of the Japan External Trade Organization.