Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Japan, with the support of the Foreign Exchange Council (FEC), organized a business seminar with the participation of heads of 14 Japanese companies-members of FEC, in particular Shimizu Corporation, IP Partners, Imagination, Metro Shoji, Colors International, Focus System Corporation, Medical Corporation Tatsuoka, etc.

The Foreign Exchange Council (FEC) was founded in 1983 as a non-profit organization that maintains friendship and business cooperation between Japan and foreign countries at the private sector level. The FEC is made up of representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The participants of the event were familiarized in detail with the large-scale reforms carried out in Uzbekistan, as well as the trade, economic and investment potential of the country. The main attention of the seminar participants was drawn to the active steps being taken to further liberalize the country’s economy, improve the investment climate, protect and guarantee private property, improve legislation in the field of entrepreneurship, and provide unprecedented benefits and preferences for foreign investors.

President of FEC Ken Matsuzawa in his speech especially emphasized the historic visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Japan in December 2019, which opened a new milestone in Uzbek-Japanese relations. He also briefed the participants on the fruitful summit talks held with the Emperor of Japan Naruhito and the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Ken Matsuzawa called on representatives of Japanese companies to implement joint projects in Uzbekistan, taking into account the great opportunities for doing business created in the country.

The President of "Colors International" company Yoshihiro Matsumoto, noting the great development potential in the tourism sector in Uzbekistan, expressed interest in establishing cooperation in the hotel business, including with the involvement of Japanese companies.

An agreement was reached with the president of Tokyo Medical Consulting Kyoko Sonda on the study of attracting Japanese companies to the implementation of joint projects in the field of medicine.

Shuichi Iinuma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IP Partners, expressed interest in establishing cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies and training in this area, in particular, organizing business in the form of outsourcing. Sh. Iinuma intends to work out the issue of employment of ICT specialists in Uzbekistan remotely. The company is considering the possibility of establishing direct contact with the technological park of software products and information technologies (IT-Park) in Tashkent.

The President of the Metro Shoji Masayuki Matsunaga agreed on the issue of working out the invitation of citizens of Uzbekistan to Japan, with the aim of their employment in the relevant organizations and companies of the country.

A substantive exchange of views on establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas, in particular in the implementation of projects in the field of infrastructure development, medicine, education, ICT, also took place with the heads of other Japanese companies.

Following the results of the business seminar, an agreement was reached on organizing a visit of a business mission of FEC members to Uzbekistan in the spring of 2021. to conduct substantive negotiations with business representatives in the country and determine specific areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Ken Matsuzawa, President of the International Friendly Exchanges Council (FEC):

“Today, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Japan and FEC held a very important event, during which an active discussion of the development of cooperation between Japan and Uzbekistan in the field of business, infrastructure, medicine, education, ICT took place.

I would like to note that after Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office as President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, cooperation between our countries is intensifying, in particular in the trade, economic and investment areas.

The Uzbek people are a close friend and reliable partner for us. In December 2019, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Japan, during which fruitful meetings were held with the Emperor of Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other officials, as well as representatives of large private business. This visit became a great stimulus for the further development of bilateral relations between Japan and Uzbekistan.

I am very glad that today’s event gave a unique opportunity to its participants - Japanese companies to present their advanced technology to Uzbekistan.

I am confident that, despite the pandemic, today’s meeting will yield concrete results.

In conclusion, I sincerely wish His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan well-being and good health. "

Yoshiro Matsumoto, President of Colors International:

“Today I participated with great interest in the event organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Japan and FEC.

Our company was founded 25 years ago. We mainly work in the tourism and hospitality industry. Recently, we have begun to expand the range of our activities. The new activity of the company is the food industry. We are engaged in the production and sale of various types of food products such as rice, green tea, confectionery, etc.

Today I learned about positive changes and reforms in Uzbekistan. It should be emphasized that in a short period of time, work has been carried out in Uzbekistan to further liberalize the country’s economy, improve the investment climate, improve legislation in the field of entrepreneurship, and provide unprecedented benefits and preferences for foreign investors.

Uzbekistan has great potential in the field of tourism. In this regard, we intend to discuss the possibilities of implementing mutually beneficial projects in this area.