site.btaJapanese Business Delegation Arrives in Sofia Tuesday

Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akiyoshi Kato, with a delegation of about 50 representatives of Japanese companies, will arrive for a two-day visit to Bulgaria on June 24, Krasimir Ivanov, head of the Commercial and Economic Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo, told the Bulgarian News Agency on Monday.

The visit will include a bilateral business forum on “Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization”, organized by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

The aim of the event is to deepen the economic dialogue and to open new opportunities for cooperation between Bulgarian and Japanese companies in key sectors of mutual interest: rail transport, energy and digital technologies. The forum is a valuable opportunity for Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises to make direct contacts with potential Japanese business partners, learn more about Japan's strategic interests in the region and explore opportunities for possible cooperation, Krasimir Ivanov said.

Japan is a promising economic partner for Bulgaria, thanks to its competitive economy and the development of innovations, the Commercial and Economic Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo pointed out and expressed their extreme satisfaction with the elevation of the relations to the level of a strategic partnership - an expression of the two countries' aspiration for all-round development of the traditional friendly relations.

There is a desire on both sides to maintain dynamic relations in the trade and economic field and to intensify the exchange of visits. The intensification of business contacts and the exchange of business delegations are extremely important for Bulgaria.

So far Bulgaria has good investment cooperation with Japan in sectors such as: production of automotive parts and cable equipment for cars, energy, healthcare, services, as well as banking. Bulgaria's goal is to attract new investors from Japan, especially in Bulgarian industry and in the high-tech manufacturing sectors. According to the Commercial and Economic Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo, there is untapped potential for further development of bilateral relations.

Bulgaria's efforts are also aimed at increasing and diversifying bilateral trade. There is great potential for increasing Bulgarian exports to Japan of products such as wines; cheese; rose oil and rose water; fish products; poultry meat; honey; tea; pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

A future reopening of JETRO's office in Bulgaria would contribute to a significant boost in bilateral trade and economic relations, Ivanov pointed out. JETRO is a government entity whose mission is to promote trade and investment between Japan and the world. The organization facilitates contacts between Japanese and foreign companies, organizes trade missions and seminars, promotes imports and investments, and provides support to foreign companies wishing to enter the Japanese market.

Japan's successful hosting of EXPO 2025 in Osaka is also a significant moment in bilateral relations, Krasimir Ivanov noted and reminded that Bulgaria is participating with its own pavilion, presenting its history, culture and traditions, as well as achievements in the field of innovation, high technology, artificial intelligence.