Japanese-Bulgarian business forum is being held in Sofia

"I am leading a delegation of a hundred people, a fact that speaks volumes about how high our expectations are for the country," said Susumu Kataoka, president of JETRO.

Over the past few years, JETRO as an organization has turned its attention to Central and Eastern Europe for one reason - we want to increase Japanese investment in this region," he added.

There are several factors that motivate Japan's decision, according to Kataoka: the rising geopolitical risk and tensions, and the strong impact of the Three Seas initiative, where Bulgaria has been a strategic partner since April this year, said Kataoka.

Specifically for Bulgaria, he recalled that the country's image in Japan is recognizable and positive. "We want more and more Japanese companies to recognize and direct their attention to the advantages that Bulgaria offers in the information and communication sector and the startup ecosystem," he announced, laying emphasis on well-prepared professionals and manpower for high-tech sector and the presence of the INSAIT Institute in Bulgaria.

The year 2024 marks 115 years since the first official contacts between Bulgaria and Japan and 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.