Skopje, 28 July 2023 (MIA) – The Director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones (TIDZ), Jovan Despotovski, and the President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Nobutani Kazushige, agreed on three new initiatives for economic growth, based on cooperation between the Macedonian and Japanese economy and companies, said TIDZ in a press release Friday.

“JETRO has a network which covers over 2 million Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises and offers various instruments supporting investments. We already agreed on cooperation not only in the area of attracting Japanese investors, but also joint projects between companies from the two countries especially in the IT sector, energy, and construction in the field of reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as direct assistance for Macedonian startups,” said Despotovski after the meeting.

JETRO President Nobutani expressed complete readiness to support TIDZ and the Government of North Macedonia, as well as a personal commitment for an accelerated realization of the new initiatives for a strengthened economic growth.

According to TIDZ, Despotovski also met with the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Hayashi Nobumitsu, with whom they agreed assistance for potential joint projects between Macedonian and Japanese construction companies regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine. Governor Hayashi voiced readiness to support such investments.

“With the Governor we spoke about concrete initiatives. The support of a bank such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation creates significant potential for the engagement of Macedonian companies in international projects,” said Despotovski.

The head of the Directorate for TIDZ is on visit to Japan, organized in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy to North Macedonia, with the goal of presenting the investment opportunities in the country. Despotovski met with several of the Japanese economic chambers, business associations, companies and state institutions.

Photo: TIDZ