On Wednesday, Chelyabinsk Region Governor Mikhail Yurevich and Takashi Nishioka, Chairman of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Newly Independent States (ROTOBO), signed a bilateral memorandum for economic cooperation in the iron and steel industry and in energy-saving and environmental safety projects.
A 40-member Japanese business delegation comprising officials from banks, insurance companies, trade organizations and multi-sector enterprises arrived in the Chelyabinsk Region on Wednesday.
“We are counting on productive cooperation with Japanese businessmen. We can offer them the most attractive investment terms. The region has never received a larger delegation in Chelyabinsk before. For us, cooperation with Japan means new jobs and the development of new technology,” Yurevich told journalists.
He said Japan could be interested in some regional enterprises, and that pre-developed production parks and facilities could be offered to Japanese businessmen.
Moreover, the region can offer tax breaks, Yurevich said. He added that the region could cooperate in such sectors as iron and steel production, in engineering and road-construction machinery manufacturing.
“The region’s public sector institutions, including schools, cultural centers and theaters, require energy-efficient technology. A special regional center could be established if Japanese companies are interested in this sector,” he added.
“The Chelyabinsk Region has many experienced engineers and a long tradition of skilled labor. I will meet with any Japanese businessman and support his investment project,” Yurevich said.
Founded in 1967, the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Newly Independent States (ROTOBO) comprises 148 major Japanese trade organizations, associations, enterprises, banks, etc. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation CEO Takashi Nishioka has chaired ROTOBO since May 2007.
CHELYABINSK, June 2 – RIA Novosti.
