Business news

MINSK, 3 October (BelTA) – Belarus interested in cooperation with Japan in petrochemistry and mechanical engineering, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Ulakhovich told reporters during the Belarus-Japan Business Forum on 3 October, BelTA has learned.

“The potential of Belarus-Japan cooperation should be translated into real projects. We should focus not only on trade, but also on large-scale investment projects in manufacturing and high technology. Today the assortment of products we ship to Japan is rather small – these are fertilizers, sawn lumber, dosimeters, equipment for chemical and physical testing,” Vladimir Ulakhovich said. In his view, the most promising areas of cooperation include petrochemistry, including upgrade of Belarusian chemical industry giants with the help of Japanese partners who have the necessary technologies and financial resources. The parties should also consider cooperation in mechanical engineering, car parts, pharmaceutics, new technologies, including laser technologies, and new materials. “Apart from that, Japan imports foodstuffs in large quantities. We can talk about it too,” Vladimir Ulakhovich noted.

Chairman of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and New Independent States (ROTOBO) Shigeru Murayama noted that economies of Belarus and Japan have much in common. “There are good prospects to forge new business contacts. Our goal is to get to know the country better and to tell our biggest companies about business opportunities in Belarus,” he said.

Shigeru Murayama outlined economic sectors that are of biggest interest to the Japanese business community. “Such areas are many, starting from manufacturing – mechanical engineering, production of equipment – and ending with information technologies and artificial intelligence. We know that Belarus is actively promoting its IT sector. I think cooperation in this field can benefit both sides,” Shigeru Murayama said.

The Japan Association for Trade with Russia and New Independent States (ROTOBO) is Japan’s only organization authorized to facilitate economic contacts with the CIS member states. ROTOBO has about 200 members, among them are trading companies, insurance companies, manufacturers, banks, industrial associations, passenger and cargo transportation agencies as well as local self-governance institutions.

The Belarus-Japan Business Forum is taking place in Minsk on 3 October. Taking part in it are Belarusian and Japanese companies representing various industries (aircraft engineering, shipbuilding, railway construction, power engineering, waste treatment and processing), financial and banking institutions, pharmaceutics, high technology, optoelectronics and laser technologies, construction and municipal services, trade in textiles, petroleum products, energy, vehicles and metals.