Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis spoke about a new momentum in economic and trade relations between Greece and Japan, today, Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Business Forum organized by SEV, on the occasion of the visit to Athens of the Japanese national business federation KEIDANREN delegation, on October 13 and 14, 2022.
Identifying sectors with great potential for cooperation, Mr. Fragogiannis highlighted the established cooperation between Greece and Japan in the shipping sector, with Greek shipowners actively demonstrating their trust in Japanese shipyards for the construction of Greek-owned ships for more than 70 years now. The Deputy Minister expressed optimism about an increase in Greek marine equipment exports to Japan.
Mr. Fragogiannis also spoke about the prospects for cooperation and investment in Greece by Japanese companies in the fields of energy, transportation, innovation and technology as well as tourism. He emphasized that Greece’s participation in the 2025 Osaka International EXPO is an ideal opportunity to further strengthen bilateral economic and business relations.
It is noted that KEIDANREN – Japan’s national business federation – is institutionally and actively involved in shaping Japan’s economic activity. Its decision to send a high-level delegation to our country – the previous such mission to Greece was in 2005 – reflects Japan’s confidence in the Greek economy and signals the Japanese side’s active interest in strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
The delegation included representatives from some of the largest Japanese companies, such as Hitachi, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, ANA Holdings, Japan Airlines, Nomura Holdings and Mitsubishi Electric.
During the visit, which was organized with the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Embassy in Athens and SEV, the KEIDANREN delegation met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Kostas Skrekas. As part of today’s Forum, a series of B2B business meetings between Greek and Japanese companies also took place.