The First Ever C5-Japan Business Forum Was Held in Astana

Today, Astana hosted the first Business Forum "C5+Japan", which brought together representatives of five Central Asian states and more than 100 leading Japanese companies and organizations operating in key sectors of the economy. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov also took part in it, and the event was moderated by Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan Murat Karimsakov.

Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marubeni Corporation, and Masami Iijima, President of the Japan Association for Trade with CIS Countries ROTOBO, spoke on behalf of the Japanese delegation at the business forum.

Thus, more than 450 representatives of the delegations of the countries of the Central Asian region and Japan gathered at the forum site. The Japanese business community is represented by the leadership and managers of such large companies as Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA, Ltd., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., the scientific staff of industry universities and others participated from the expert community.

Olzhas Bektenov stressed that the region is interested in technology transfer.

The Central Asian countries are creating a unique IT ecosystem that makes it possible to modernize the public administration sector, fintech and e-commerce, he noted.

"Japan is rightfully considered one of the global economic and technological leaders. In turn, Central Asia is a dynamically developing region with huge growth potential and all conditions for comprehensive cooperation. I believe that the countries of our region and Japan have great potential for progressive expansion of cooperation. Today's productive negotiations are designed to bring our multifaceted partnership to a qualitatively new level," the Prime Minister said.

Murat Karimsakov, Head of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, noted that back in 1997, Japan was the first world power to draw attention to the growing potential of Central Asian countries, considering them as a "valuable and integral region" in Eurasia.

"In 2004, Japan initiated the Central Asia + Japan (or C5+1) format, which has become an important platform for strengthening cooperation in the region. This format brings positive results in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation for all participating countries. Today, many Japanese companies are actively implementing projects in Central Asia. The forum participants had the opportunity to learn in detail about these successful cases and practices during thematic panel sessions and business meetings," the speaker added.

Thus, the countries of Central Asia represent an important economic and dynamically developing region with significant development potential due to their natural, energy and human resources, strategic location between Europe and Asia.

The outcome of the business forum within the framework of the Central Asia + Japan dialogue was the signing of documents on the implementation of joint projects designed to bring the multifaceted partnership to a new level.

In particular, on the sidelines of the forum, the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, represented by Murat Karimsakov, and Umid Turgunov, a representative of the Japanese company Minamin Co., Ltd. in Central Asia, signed a memorandum of understanding.

This document provides for the regular exchange of economic information for commercial and business activities, as well as data on investment regulation, export opportunities and import needs for the development of markets on both sides.

In turn, the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to provide support in finding partners, opening representative offices, organizing exhibitions of products of Minamin Co., Ltd LLP within the framework of forums and other events. In turn, Minamin Co., Ltd. will assist in opening a representative office in Japan, finding partners and providing other services under similar agreements.

The signing of this memorandum highlights the importance and prospects for further cooperation between the countries of the region and Japan.