Despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Japan External Trade Organization hopes to support the reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy by supporting initiatives by Japanese and Ukrainian companies to strengthen ties.
To this end, the organization held an event in Kiev on Thursday to help Japanese and Ukrainian companies seize business opportunities.
The event was attended by ten Japanese companies, including logistics giant Nippon Express, and about twenty Ukrainian companies and organizations, including chemical company Enamine.
“While fighting continues, the reconstruction process has already begun,” said an official from Padeco, a Japanese international development consultancy firm.
An Enamine official expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with people from Japanese companies.
The networking event was organized by government-affiliated JETRO following a meeting between Japan and Ukraine held in Tokyo in February to discuss support for the war-torn country’s reconstruction.
The business environment is difficult as there are restrictions on people visiting Ukraine from Japan.
Still, Susumu Kataoka, chairman of JETRO, emphasized the need for Japanese companies to “work with both feet on the ground for reconstruction support.”
He stressed the importance of personal meetings between officials of Japanese and Ukrainian companies to exchange information.
