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Japan to host over 200 businesses at conference promoting Ukraine's economic recovery

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Japan to host over 200 businesses at conference promoting Ukraine's economic recovery
The Rebuild Ukraine Business Conference held in Toronto on Nov. 23, 2022, brought together speakers to discuss investment to support Ukraine's reconstruction due to Russia's war. (Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce/Facebook)

Around 100 businesses each from Japan and Ukraine are slated to attend a Japan-Ukraine economic reconstruction conference in Tokyo later this month, Japanese media outlet Kyodo News reported on Feb. 3.

The upcoming conference on Feb. 19 aims to facilitate public-private collaboration in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure to provide support for Kyiv as it continues its economic reconstruction amid Russia's full-scale invasion.

Ahead of the conference, Japan is exploring ways to assist Japanese companies to initiating business ventures in Ukraine, including easing travel restrictions, according to Kyodo News.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also set to present Tokyo's strategies for aiding in Ukraine's reconstruction at the conference.

A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Japan has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities in recent months.

On Jan. 7, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, and pledged to provide $37 million to a NATO fund for anti-drone equipment for Ukraine.

In December, the Japanese Foreign Ministry also reported that it was changing its laws regarding arms exports to allow for the transfer of weapons and would send the U.S. Patriot missiles.

Japanese law prohibits sending weapons to countries actively at war, but the move could pave the way for the U.S. to replenish its own stocks while sending Ukraine additional missiles.

Zelensky meets Japanese Foreign Minister: ‘Japan is important and strong partner for us’
President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa for her country’s support for Ukraine, voicing hopes for further relations in 2024 during their meeting in Kyiv on Jan. 7.
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Dmytro Basmat

Senior News Editor

Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.

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The Kyiv Independent staff documented what it feels like to live and sleep in Kyiv, Ukraine, as Russia intensifies its drone and missile attacks on the city. Filmed over several weeks in June and July, our journalists take shelter in bathrooms, basements, and parking garages as explosions ring out overhead.

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