Manturov: Russia and Japan could develop joint projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Southeast Asia
Russia and Japan could develop joint projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Southeast Asia, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told journalists in the margins of the Russia–Japan Trade and Industrial Dialogue.
“I would not limit the countries involved to just the Asia-Pacific region. Today, we have been discussing opportunities for our business partners to get involved in our projects in Africa and Southeast Asia, since Japan has both the financial and the technological resources required. We also have the industrial potential and solid partnerships”, he said.
Earlier, during the event’s plenary session, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development Stanislav Voskresensky had said that Russia and Japan were discussing the possibility of developing joint projects to enter third-country markets, specifically in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to Manturov, the joint projects developed by the two countries could include initiatives in Egypt. Egypt, which has also hosted a joint industrial forum attended by the Industry and Trade Minister, has previously proposed that Russian companies bring their manufacturing to the region, and is providing a special industrial zone for this purpose. The two sides are currently determining the specifications of the site and its residents.
“While we are here (in Tokyo), Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a very good friend and partner of ours and someone with whom we have developed a good business relationship, is also in the city. We are inviting our Japanese colleagues to join us, for example, in developing and populating the industrial zones being created for us by our Egyptian friends”, Manturov added.
He also invited his Japanese partners to continue their dialogue at the twentieth St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is to be held on June 16–18, 2016.
More details are available on the TASS website: tass.ru (Russian only)
