Online participation in "Business Dialogue Russia-Japan" at SPIEF 2021

June 2021

From June 2 to 5, the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a major international economic event referred to as the "Russian Davos Conference," was convened. On June 5, one of the event’s programs, the 6th Business Dialogue Russia-Japan, was held online, and JETRO Chairman and CEO SASAKI Nobuhiko participated as a panelist with ranking officials from both governments and Russian and Japanese business people.

Representatives from both governments highly praised the progress of business between the two countries centered on the “eight-point economic cooperation proposal," even under the corona crisis, and expressed high hopes for the fields of "healthcare," "digital innovation," and "green economy and carbon neutrality."

As an initiative related to digital innovation, Chairman Sasaki explained that JETRO adapted to the corona crisis by switching almost all its activities online in fiscal year 2020. Regarding Russia, he mentioned that JETRO co-sponsored a pitch event for Russian startups and a matching program where they seek out Japanese companies in collaboration with the Skolkovo Foundation, one of Russia's largest innovation support organizations. He also presented successful cases of FDI into Japan by startups originated from Russia through JETRO's support. In response, Chairman Alexey Repik of Business Russia, who played the role of moderator, replied that he would like to build a win-win relationship between Japan and Russia in the digital field.

JETRO will continue to make efforts to vitalize bilateral economic exchange between Russia and Japan.