In Tokyo, for the first time in five years, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Japan Business Federation "Keidanren" held their ninth joint meeting with the participation of both Ukrainian and Japanese businesses. Among the attendees were companies from energy, finance, agriculture, machine engineering, logistics, and construction sectors, with around 100 Japanese companies in total. The event also saw the participation of a Ukrainian business delegation, consisting of more than 20 Ukrainian companies across manufacturing, trade, agriculture, IT, and other industries.
During the meeting, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, and the head of the Committee on Cooperation with Ukraine at Keidanren, Fumiya Kokubu, signed a memorandum that aims to continue and expand cooperation to support Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and enhance bilateral relations.
"Private sector involvement must drive Ukraine's economic growth and recovery. Therefore, our priorities include further cooperation with Keidanren and its members. We have proposed to Japanese businesses to create joint ventures with Ukrainian companies, localize their technologies and production, establish business representations, and supply high-tech industrial equipment and spare parts to Ukraine. We also appealed to the Japanese government for support in rebuilding destroyed manufacturing enterprises and infrastructure," said Yulia Svyrydenko.
She noted that Japanese companies are already actively entering the Ukrainian market, with over 40 Japanese companies currently operating in Ukraine.
Representatives from Keidanren highlighted the progress of reforms implemented in Ukraine and confirmed their readiness to assist in the country's recovery, particularly through public-private partnerships.
Additionally, Japanese companies presented initiatives addressing Ukraine's immediate needs and ensuring sustainable growth. Private sector representatives emphasized the importance of conditions such as access to financing, reducing business risks during the war (including insurance against wartime risks), revising travel restrictions, and increasing private sector involvement in Ukraine's reconstruction projects.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to work towards resolving the challenges faced by Japanese companies operating in Ukraine.
