Latvian Ambassador to Japan, Peteris Vaivars, visits Japanese cities Kobe and Osaka

On 27-28 March 2007, Latvian Ambassador to Japan, Peteris Vaivars, was on a working visit to Kobe, which is a sister city of Riga, and to Osaka, the capital city of the Kansai region. 

In Kobe the Ambassador delivered lectures at the European Union Institute of the University of Kobe and for the Kobe Foreign Trade Association. At the University of Kobe, the Ambassador addressed students and participated in working groups, in which students discussed various EU-related topics, such as EU external and security policy, and the migration of people within the European Union. Mr Vaivars shared with students Latvia's experience in joining the EU and provided information about the Latvian state, its influence in the EU, and the operation of EU institutions.

Approximately 50 members of Kobe-Riga Friendship Society and interested persons had gathered in the Kobe Foreign Trade Association. The Ambassador addressed them on the subject of the friendship between Kobe and Riga that has already been in existence for 33 years and invited them to establish closer business contacts with Latvia, mentioning the country's economic attractiveness and the so-far unexploited opportunities for co-operation.

Among the participants, there were also some entrepreneurs who are already co-operating with Latvia and who, after the Ambassador's address, confirmed their further interest in operations in Latvia and in expanding these operations.

In Osaka, Ambassador Vaivars had a meeting with the Vice-mayor of the city, Masashi Igoshi; the Chairman of Osaka City Council, Yoshikazu Sakai; the Chairman of the International Committee of the Economic Federation of Kansai region Kankeiren, Masayuki Matsushita; and a representative of the Osaka Chamber of Trade and Industry, Satoshi Tanioka. The Director of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, Andris Ozols, also participated in the discussions, during which the Japanese officials were advised of the economic attractiveness of Latvia and invited to activate business contacts with Latvia. The discussions also included possibilities to organize a business seminar in order to familiarize Japanese entrepreneurs with the economic environment in Latvia and investment opportunities, and to facilitate trade between both countries. The possibility to organize a mission of Japanese businessmen to Latvia was also discussed.

The Latvian Embassy in Japan will promote the recognisability of Latvia and co-operation with the Kansai region also in the future, and will make efforts to activate the friendly relations between Riga and Kobe.

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