ArmInfo. Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, as part of his working visit to Japan, held a meeting with executive director of the Japan Association for Trade with Russia & NIS (ROTOBO) Mr. Kyoichi Suzuki.
The parties discussed issues related to the fields of instrument making and mechanical engineering, as well as prospects for cooperation in these areas. Presenting the Gyumri "Dry Port" project, Vahan Kerobyan offered the Japanese side to consider the possibility of involving Japanese companies in that project. In addition, the minister spoke about the favorable conditions created in Armenia in terms of opening innovative R&D offices.
Vahan Kerobyan arrived in Japan to participate in the World EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. ROTOBO was founded on January 16, 1967 It is a unique organization engaged in promotion of trade and business cooperation between Japanese enterprises and former socialist countries of Eurasia (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Mongolia).
ROTOBO has nearly 200 member companies including trading firms, manufacturers, banks, securities companies, industrial associations, transportation and shipping companies, local governments and so on. The main activity is to collect and analyze information related to business with partner countries, disseminate this information among ROTOBO members; providing ROTOBO members with services such as consultations, assistance in finding business partners and resolving disputes, organizing and supporting business forums, seminars, presentations and lectures; sending specialists and delegations to partner countries, as well as receiving delegations from these countries, providing assistance to countries transitioning to a market economy; in reforming the economy, including assistance in training. According to statistical data, foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Japan in Jan-Sept 2023 increased 3.8-fold, to $297.4 million. At the same time, exports increased by 1.1% to $2.2 million, against the backdrop of a 2.9-fold increase in imports to $295.2 million.