V Russian-Japanese investment forum took place in June 6-7, 2012 in Kazan

A major event of Russian-Japanese bilateral cooperation of this year - V Russian-Japanese investment forum - took place in June 6-7, 2012 in Kazan, according to the website of Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation.

The forum was dedicated to the cooperation in innovation, high-tech industries, commercialization of research and developments in priority areas such as fuel and energy complex, chemical industry, infrastructure and transport, food industry, medical industry and pharmaceuticals. A special topic of the forum was the Russian-Japanese regional cooperation.

Welcoming speeches were made by the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yukio Edano, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Oleg Saveliev.

The speakers noted that over the past 10 years they have seen a significant broadening of the Russian-Japanese economic cooperation. Bilateral trade is growing as well as the number of joint projects and investment cooperation activities.

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yukio Edano said that last year trade turnover between Russia and Japan reached a record level. However, taking into account the potential of our countries, there are still many undeveloped areas in terms of cooperation.

In particular, Sergei Vasilyev, director of the Russian Chamber of Commerce of ICE, said that the Forum in Kazan confirms the growing mutual interest of the business community of Russia and Japan. He outlined the main directions of the RF CCI international activities, including the Japanese direction, stressing that the Chamber is open for cooperation with various associations of Japanese business and welcomes active work of Japanese firms in the Russian market, especially in those industries that contribute to the development of our Economy-related innovation sectors. The sphere of green growth is a promising area of cooperation with Japan - energy efficiency, energy conservation, development and usage of renewable and new energy sources.

One of the most effective forms of cooperation between Russia and Japan is cooperation within APEC. Time has shown that, despite all the difficulties of the transition period, Russia has managed to become one of the most important players in APEC. A meeting on the Food Security and Trade was held in Kazan. The arrangements for the Summit in Vladivostok are being actively conducted. The role of Russia's participation will increase even more after we join the WTO. Russia and Japan have an opportunity to influence the process of forming new relationships in the region.

Our countries face challenges in deepening the exchange of information, expanding the practice of business visits, mutual participation in fairs and exhibitions, preparation of agreed information documents about the situation in bilateral economic relations and bringing it to the attention of entrepreneurs, simplifying customs procedures, improving trade and transport infrastructure.

Roundtables devoted to the Russian-Japanese business cooperation took place at the Forum. More issues of bilateral cooperation in the automotive, medical and pharmaceutical industries and many others were also discussed.

A whole number of agreements were signed between companies of Russia and Japan during the forum. One of them concerns the project of polyester fabrics production in the Alabuga SEZ. Another project is about the participation of Marubeni Corporation in the construction of wood-chemical complex in Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The Forum in Kazan demonstrated the high potential for business cooperation between Russia and Japan, as well as outlined the perspective directions of further development.