Over 350 representatives of Japanese companies participated in today's online conference INVEST IN SERBIA, dedicated to Japanese companies and investors, who had the opportunity to hear about the investment climate of the Republic of Serbia, but also the experiences of Japanese investors already operating in Serbia.

Screenshot / RAS

This event was jointly organized by the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS), Mizuho Bank Ltd., and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Vienna office, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Serbia. 

Carrying the title of one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world, Serbia has recently become one of the countries that investors from Japan have shown interest in. With the beginning of the Toyo Tire Corporation project in Indjija (Serbia) by breaking the ground for the factory this year, as well as the official announcement of the Nidec Corporation that it has chosen Serbia for their new project in Europe, investors' interest in Serbia has taken an upward trajectory, especially when it comes to Japanese investors. Even in the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic, Serbia managed to maintain the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI). Moreover, the interest of investors remained at the same level and even at a higher one than before the pandemic.

At this virtual event "Invest in Serbia", which gathered as many as 350 participants and interested companies from Japan, representatives of Japanese companies shared with the participants the reasons why they decided to invest in Serbia, as well as their business experiences in our country.

The seminar was opened by H.E. Ambassador of Japan to Serbia Takahiko Katsumata.

Mr. Yuji Miyazaki, Vice President of Toyo Tire Corporation (Corporate Officer, Vice President, Production Headquarters), and  Mr. Shingo Tsuji, Vice President of NIDEC Corporation (General Manager of Production Division, in charge of supervising Production Division in Europe of Automotive Motor & Electronic Control Business Unit), spoke about the advantages of Serbia as an investment location and the reasons why they chose Serbia for the projects, while Mr. Turgut Korkut from Yazaki Corporation (Director & Plant Manager) and Mr. Bojan Mrazovac from NTT Data Corporation (Head of Research and Development ) shared their business experience in Serbia.

An important segment of the conference was the presentation of the investment potentials and investment climate of the Republic of Serbia, as well as economic trends in the country, which was discussed by Mr. Radoš Gazdić, Acting Director of RAS. Also, the emphasis was placed on bilateral and economic cooperation with Japan, considering that next year Serbia and Japan will celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations.

The panelists were also Mr. Goran Pekez from the Japanese Business Alliance in Serbia (JBAS), who spoke about the support that JBAS provides to Japanese companies that decide to start a business in Serbia and the importance of cooperation between the Japanese and Serbian business communities. Then, Mr. Takahiro Zamamoto from Mizuho Bank, speaking about the support of companies that want to invest here, and Mr. Jiro Takeichi, who spoke on behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) about the partnership with the private sector.