Two senior Japanese vice ministers, Kiyoto Tsuji and Kazuchika Iwata, along with a business delegation, have embarked on a visit to Ukraine to explore opportunities for Japanese involvement in the reconstruction efforts of the war-torn country, as confirmed by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.
The delegation, which includes Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation’s special committee on Ukraine’s economic recovery, met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv. During the meeting, Tsuji assured Shmyhal of Japan’s unwavering commitment to assisting Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of the visit in further engaging Japanese firms in the nation’s reconstruction.
Iwata expressed the government’s support for Japanese businesses contributing to Ukraine’s recovery. Shmyhal expressed optimism about Japan’s role and reiterated the commitment to collaboration, with plans for the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Reconstruction scheduled to take place in Tokyo on February 19.
The delegation includes representatives from about 10 Japanese companies, including JFE Engineering Corp., IHI Corp., Nippon Koei (Integrated Design & Engineering Holdings), and Kubota Corp. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in Tokyo highlighted the mission’s goal to enhance public-private support for Ukraine’s recovery and expressed hopes for the success of the upcoming conference.
Japanese companies, including IHI and Nippon Koei, are actively exploring infrastructure projects in southwestern Ukraine, with the potential construction of a large bridge and the establishment of railway links to neighboring Moldova. These initiatives are designed to not only reconnect the flow of goods to and from the European Union but also to enhance regional connectivity. In addition, companies such as Komaihaltec are considering the construction of temporary bridges at strategic logistics hubs impacted by the conflict.
