Japan is hosting a conference this Monday, February 19, on promoting the economic reconstruction of Ukraine, just before the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denis Chmyhal, and delegates from around a hundred Ukrainian companies and institutions are attending this conference, which benefits from the support of Keidanren, the all-powerful Japanese employers’ federation.
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With our correspondent in Tokyo, Frederic Charles
At the end of the conference, more than forty documents for the reconstruction of Ukraine must be signed. Japan chose seven target areas for rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure: demining and debris removal, development of agricultural and related industries, production of biochemicals, expansion of digital and information industry , infrastructure in the energy and transport sectors and improving humanitarian conditions and measures against corruption.
On the eve of the conference, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) introduced Japanese companies to potential business partners in Ukraine. A precision machinery manufacturer from Nagano exhibited emergency water purifiers.
Japan eased restrictions on arms exports
Ukraine’s IT industry and its start-ups attract the greatest interest in Japan. The country wants to ease travel restrictions to Ukraine for Japanese companies that will contribute to the country’s reconstruction.
Japan’s pacifist Constitution prevents Japan from offering Ukraine military equipment. Yet for the first time, the country began delivering Patriot missiles to the United States for allow Washington to provide them to Ukraine.
Last year, Japan decided to allocate $1 billion to humanitarian projects and the reconstruction of Ukraine. And the country wants to increase this amount to 4.5 billion, through international institutions.