MINSK, 8 February (BelTA) – Representatives of the information technology industry of Japan intend to visit Belarus this year, BelTA learned from Charge d'Affaires of Japan to Belarus Hiroki Tokunaga at a press conference on 8 February.
According to the diplomat, IT industry is one of the most attractive areas for bilateral cooperation. “There are a lot of highly qualified specialists in Belarus, particularly in the IT industry. It opens great opportunities for our cooperation in the future,” Hiroki Tokunaga said. In particular, some Japanese businessmen are interested in high-tech equipment of Belarusian make.
Hiroki Tokunaga said he believes it is necessary to arrange more events to raise the awareness of the Japanese private sector about the Belarusian economy. For instance, a Belarus-Japan economic forum took place in Tokyo in May 2018. During the forum Belarusian Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko did a presentation of Belarus' investment climate. Representatives of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and New Independent States (ROTOBO) visited Belarus in October 2018. They met with representatives of the Belarusian government and the Industry Ministry and visited some Belarusian companies.
“In 2018 Belarus welcomed more Japanese businessmen in comparison with the previous year. I feel that Japan's economic interest in Belarus grows stronger,” the diplomat noted.
The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Program that the Japanese government has been implementing since 1989 was also mentioned during the press conference. The program provides for allocating grants to human security projects, including projects to help those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Since 2014 as many as 45 projects of the kind have been implemented in Belarus to the tune of about $3.7 million.
