Cyprus, Japan working on economic and business ties

Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister George Papanastasiou and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy Taku Ishii on Saturday expressed the joint wish to renew discussions on strengthening economic and business ties between the two countries.

Papanastasiou met with Ishii during a visit to Japan, heading a business delegation organised by the ministry, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Cyprus Trade Centre in Tokyo.

During the meeting with the Japanese minister, Papanastasiou briefed his interlocutor over his visit to Japan, due to the country’s expertise in the fields of technology and communications and the special culture of dedication and discipline.

He also referred “to the successful business forum hosted in Tokyo attracting over 120 government officials, businesspeople, representatives of research centres and journalists.”

The minister also showcased Cyprus’ advantages as an international business centre and the opportunities for Japanese businesspeople wishing to enter the European markets.

He further outlined Cyprus’ policies on energy concerning, among other things, renewable energy sources, natural gas discoveries in the Cypriot EEZ, and the electricity interconnection of Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

The Japanese vice minister referred to the similarities of the two countries as island states and the Japanese firms choosing Cyprus for expansion of their activities.

The two ministers expressed their wish to renew their discussions over the strengthening of bilateral economic and business ties.