Latvian Embassy in Japan to start co-operation with Riga's sister city of Kobe [01 Dec 2006]

From 27 to 30 November 2006, representatives from the Latvian Embassy in Japan and from the Parex Bank office in Japan made a visit to Riga's sister city of Kobe.

During the meetings, the Latvian Ambassador to Japan, Peteris Vaivars, noted that this is the first visit by Latvian diplomats to Kobe since the opening of the Latvian Embassy in April of this year. He emphasized that the Embassy has opened new opportunities for expanding co-operation in the business, culture, education, science, and tourism sectors. Ambassador Vaivars briefed those present on Latvia's economic growth since the restoration of independence, on the country's current economic progress, on the attractiveness of business and investment environment, and on the vast opportunities for co-operation in the area of tourism.

The representatives from Kobe expressed much interest in expanding co-operation with Latvia. They noted that the existing contacts with Riga helped them learn a lot about the capital city and Latvia in general, however, there is still potential for intensifying the exchange of information and economic co-operation. A representative from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) expressed interest in arranging a seminar on business and investment opportunities in Latvia for the local businessmen at the beginning of the next year in co-operation with the Latvian Embassy in Japan.

The diplomats also visited the Kobe City Oji Zoo, where the Latvian Ambassador had the opportunity to see the female elephant Zuze which had been presented by the Riga National Zoological Garden to the Kobe Zoo in 1996 in exchange for a collection of cranes. As part of the visit, the Latvian delegation also met with the Governor of the Hyogo Prefecture, the Mayor of Kobe, the Director of the JETRO Kobe Office, the senior management of the Japan Travel Bureau (the largest tourism company in Japan) representation in Kobe, the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kobe International Kendo Club, the Kobe City Oji Zoo, the representatives from the Kobe University, the port of Kobe, and media representatives.

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