The Japanese business demonstrates much interest in co-operation with Belarus, Andrei Yevdochenko, Belarusian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador at large, told the press in Moscow after a special seminar, which presented opportunities for expanding Belarusian-Japanese trade and economic cooperation.In his words, the event allowed representatives of Japanese business circles to learn about Belarus economic development and get details about concrete spheres where mutually beneficial contacts may be established. The Japanese side showed special interest in cooperation in the high-tech field.
The seminar was organised by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry in association with the Belarusian embassy in Russia and the Moscow branch of the Japan External Trade Organization JETRO. It is a non-commercial state-funded organisation, which aids Japan trade with other countries as well as establishes contacts between Japanese and foreign companies. The Belarusian side was represented by members of the State Science and Technologies Committee, several leading companies and banks, which arranged a presentation of their trade and economic opportunities as part of the seminar. The Japanese side was represented by almost thirty companies, including world-famous Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Yamaha, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation.
Commenting on the results of the meeting, head of JETRO’s Moscow office Iwao Ohashi said, the activity of Belarusian companies is seen well in Russia. The seminar showed that the Belarusian and Japanese cooperation has a great potential, especially for cooperation in the electronics field.
In turn, Yamaha representative Yano Masashi noted, Belarus has been traditionally positioned on the world market as a heavy machine engineering manufacturer and a producer of similar goods. However, during the seminar the Japanese businessmen had an opportunity to learn about other field of possible mutually beneficial cooperation. In particular, they were interested in the possibility of establishing relations with Belarusian Horizont.
The main part of Belarus exports to Japan is made up of potassium fertilisers, glass fibre, optical and metering devices, lasers, lenses, prisms, condensed milk and dry milk. Belarus mainly imports from Japan such goods as machinery, industrial and laboratory equipment, automobiles and spare parts, optical instruments, computers, road construction machines.
