Business news

MINSK, 28 March (BelTA) - The economic potential of Belarus, including the achievements in mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and also information technology were presented at the workshop in Japan, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.

The workshop was dedicated to the Belarusian-Japanese economic cooperation and was organized by the Belarusian Embassy in Japan with the support of the Japanese Nomura Research Institute (NRI). The event was attended by representatives of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and New Independent States (ROTOBO), large companies such as Mitsui, Marubeni and Sojitz, and Japanese corporations: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Sumitomo Rubber, N.B.R. and others.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Japan Sergei Rakhmanov praised the potential of the Belarusian-Japanese economic cooperation, and urged to further enhance ties in trade, economic, scientific and technological areas. The Ambassador noted that it was in the technological sphere that Belarus and Japan could be very effective partners, taking into account the availability of highly-qualified specialists in Belarus, developed production and logistics infrastructure and the efforts undertaken in the country to create a favorable climate for business.

Together with NRI, the Belarusian delegation prepared an extensive information program about positive examples of trade, economic and investment interaction between Belarusian and Japanese entities. Particular attention was paid to the prospects of using Belarus as a platform for the production of high-tech and competitive goods for subsequent sale in the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and other countries.

During the follow-up discussions representatives of Japanese companies expressed interest in the legal framework, the technical requirements in the Eurasian Economic Union, and in the terms of doing business in Belarus. Speaking at the event were also representatives of Japan Tobacco and Tokyo Instruments who highlighted the positive experience of cooperation with Belarus.

Nomura Research Institute is the largest Japanese consulting company. It issues recommendations for major Japanese corporations on foreign economic activity. Founded in 1965, NRI employs about 9000 professionals. The company has a very broad customer base, including major Japanese corporations (Mitsubishi, Itochu, Toyota, Panasonic, Sony and others), and smaller companies. NRI operates about 10 branches in Japan and overseas offices in the UK, Hong Kong, India, China, Russia, the United States, Singapore and the Philippines.