Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy: Bulgaria-Japan Business Forum Marks New Start in Bilateral Ties

Dimitrina Solakova, Delyan Petrishki

Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akiyoshi Kato, addressing the Bulgarian-Japanese business forum, Sofia, June 25, 2025 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

25.06.2025 11:18

(BTA)

Addressing a Bulgarian-Japanese business forum here on Wednesday, Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akiyoshi Kato, said that the forum is set to serve as a foundation for new relations between the two countries, given the 24 Japanese companies and representatives of government agencies represented. The forum, focused on infrastructure, energy and digitization, was 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).

Akiyoshi Kato stressed the importance of the Strategic Partnership Declaration between Japan and Bulgaria, signed in Tokyo in May, describing the document as the cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

He expressed the hope and conviction that the two countries will establish real cooperation, not just about the food industry but also about energy, information technology, and carbon neutral societies. This is a milestone not only for Bulgaria and Japan but also for the world, he added.

He believes that Japanese companies, with their new technologies, will support Bulgaria's development. He expressed the hope that Japan will support Bulgaria and the whole of Europe and together build a better growth and a better Europe.

In his address, he also mentioned Bulgaria's upcoming membership in the euro area. Regarding Bulgaria's bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Parliamentary Vice-Minister assured the audience that Bulgaria could count on the support of the Japanese Government.

He described the Bulgarian pavilion at the EXPO 2025 in Osaka as remarkable, adding that many Japanese are interested in visiting it. He further pointed out that the statue in front of the pavilion is made of stone that was taken from his birthplace.

At the end of his address, Akiyoshi Kato expressed the belief that Wednesday's forum was an expression of the cooperation between the two countries and their future together. He thanked the Bulgarian Government, the Embassy and the Ambassador of Japan in Bulgaria as well as JETRO.

Akiyoshi Kato, with a delegation of about 50 representatives of Japanese companies, began a two-day visit to Bulgaria on June 24. The main purpose of the visit is to explore investment opportunities and expand bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors.

/DS/