Turkey and Japan have a strong relationship built on a long history of helping each other.
“Our bilateral cooperation has extended into various fields, not only business and economic, but also cultural and academic. On trade and investment, for example, if the ongoing negotiation for a Japan-Turkey economic partnership agreement is concluded, it will bring a broader and more stable business environment for both countries, thereby inducing more investment from Japan to Turkey,” explained Japan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Kazuhiro Suzuki.
“In science, the Turkish Japanese Science and Technology University in Istanbul is a case in point. The two countries are working hard to establish it and make it a hub for academic and research excellence, aiming to realize its opening in 2023,” he noted.
Yuko Tanaka, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Turkey, said that more projects in various fields are expected to start soon.
“Our four top priorities in Turkey are to contribute to the establishment of a strong urban infrastructure that supports the economic and social development as well as disaster risk reduction; to strengthen partnership with the private sector; to strengthen ties with development partners for development of other parts of the world; and to support the governmental policies regarding vulnerable people, including those forcibly displaced,” she explained.
New areas of Japan’s cooperation with Turkey relate to climate change, including such areas as energy efficiency, renewable energy and response to natural disasters.
“We will make our best effort to contribute to strengthen the trustful relations between Turkey and Japan,” Tanaka added.
Hiroto Kobayashi, senior managing director of the Japan External Trade Organization in Istanbul, shared that Turkey and Japan have much to look forward to in the coming years.
“2023 will be the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey and 2024 will mark the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the diplomatic relations between Turkey and Japan. Both occasions can be said to be good opportunities to foster our relationships in various areas, such as business and culture,” Kobayashi said.
Read the full interviews on: https://bit.ly/TRJP22-bridges
