Prospects for building up Uzbek-Japanese interregional cooperation were discussed in detail in Fukuoka Prefecture

Representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Tokyo made a working visit to Fukuoka Prefecture, the correspondent of ‘Dunyo’ news agency reports.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss issues of expanding and developing interregional cooperation in the trade, economic, investment, tourism and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as actively promoting the policy of economic diplomacy of Uzbekistan.

During the visit, meetings were held with the Chairman of the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of ‘Nishi-Nippon City Bank’ Hiromichi Tanigawa, President of ‘Kyuden International Corporation’ Takashi Mitsuyoshi, President of ‘Aso Trading Co. Ltd.’ and ‘Hankyu Travel Co. Ltd.’ Masahiro Aso, Honorary Consul of Uzbekistan in Fukuoka Prefecture Tetsuro Yamasaka.

The diplomats also took part in a business forum on the topic of ‘Tourism and Investment Potential of Uzbekistan’.

During the talks, the Japanese side was provided with information on the results of large-scale reforms implemented in the economic, political and social spheres of our country in recent years, as well as on the investment and tourism potential of Uzbekistan.

Chairman of the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President of Nishi-Nippon City Bank Hiromichi Tanigawa highly appreciated the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan to improve the investment climate, support foreign investors and liberalize the economy, noting that as a result of these reforms, the interest of Japanese business circles in our country is growing.

Considering the important strategic location of Uzbekistan and the huge economic potential of the Central Asian region, he expressed his readiness to provide practical assistance in expanding and intensifying cooperation between representatives of the business circles of our country and Fukuoka Prefecture.

At the same time, readiness was expressed to establish cooperation relations with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and to provide practical assistance in providing member companies with information on the investment potential of our country and export potential.

President of ‘Kyuden International Corporation’ Takashi Mitsuyoshi presented information on the status of the project to build a modern combined-cycle thermal power plant (TPP) of category ‘H’ with a capacity of 1600 MW on an area of ​​61.9 hectares in the Bayaut district of the Syrdarya region, in the implementation of which this company is participating.

In particular, it was noted that this ‘Kyuden International Corporation’ recently sent two leading Japanese engineers to participate in the project, which is progressing rapidly, and the commissioning of the TPP is scheduled for June 2026.

Takashi Mitsuyoshi said that as a result of this successful project, ‘Kyuden International Corporation’ is studying the possibility of implementing new projects in our country for the production of alternative energy and the creation of energy storage systems.

During a meeting with the President of ‘Aso Trading Co. Ltd.’, the son of the former Prime Minister of Japan and famous politician Taro Aso Masahiro Aso, issues of increasing the export of Uzbek products to Fukuoka Prefecture were discussed.

Masahiro Aso fondly recalled his visit to Uzbekistan in September 2023 as Chairman of the Japan Junior Chamber International (JCI), noting that this visit and the meetings held were very productive. He said that, based on the potential of Fukuoka Prefecture, the issue of exporting dried fruits and legumes from our country is being studied.

During the meeting with the General Director of the travel company ‘Hankyu Travel Co. Ltd.’ Yoichi Tomura, issues of increasing the flow of tourists to our country from Fukuoka Prefecture, developing new tourism content, organizing charter flights from Kyushu to Uzbekistan were discussed.

The Japanese side noted that the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz, located at the crossroads of the Silk Road and included in the list of UNESCO historical monuments, occupy a special place among the world’s tourist destinations. It was emphasized that in recent years, the interest of Japanese tourists in Uzbekistan has been growing.

The rapid reforms and achievements in the tourism sector in Uzbekistan were highly appreciated and readiness to contribute to the development of practical cooperation between the regions was expressed.

During the working visit, a meeting was held with the Honorary Consul of our country in the prefectures of Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Okayama, President of the ‘Balcom Group’ Tetsura Yamasaka.

During the meeting, the Honorary Consul and the delegation discussed the work to be carried out in 2025 to increase the inflow of Japanese investment into our country, the widespread promotion of Uzbek products on the Japanese market, and an increase in the number of Japanese tourists to our country.