Visit to Japan

The Export Alliance UAMC project, supported by the USAID "Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine," began with a visit by representatives of the Ukrainian automotive industry to Japan. Participants in the Ukrainian Automotive and Mobility Cluster selected Japan as one of three priority markets. The globally renowned "Japanese economic miracle" exemplifies Japan's revival and recovery after World War II.

In February this year, a conference on economic development and Ukraine’s recovery was held in Tokyo, where the automotive industry was highlighted as a priority for collaboration and investment. We were honored to present the Ukrainian booth at the Smart Manufacturing Summit by Global Industry, an event focused on European and Japanese innovations in Industry 5.0. European businesses have been established in Japan for over 50 years, with the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed five years ago.

The Smart Manufacturing Summit was opened by Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, the European Union Ambassador to Japan, and Mr. Hideaki Omura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture. The summit’s panel discussions centered on cooperation between Europe and Japan, connections between universities and industry, and the economic impact of manufacturing innovations, demonstrated most prominently in Japan by Toyota Motor Corporation. We were pleased to hear from Caroline Viarouge, CEO of EIT Manufacturing, who spoke alongside Dirk Thieme, Head of New Mobility Innovation at Volkswagen Sachsen.

The exhibition hosted participants from over 40 countries, and representatives from six Ukrainian companies proudly showcased Ukrainian enterprises, holding over 100 meetings. It was a privilege to have our booth in the European Pavilion and to feel the support and camaraderie from our European colleagues.

On the first day of the exhibition, a local newspaper (Central Japan) published an announcement about the Ukrainian delegation’s participation in the Smart Manufacturing Summit by Global Industry. We extend our gratitude to Manuel Hubert and Fabrizio Muri from the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, as well as Morgan Chaudeler, CEO of Aichi Sky Expo, for the invitation and support. Special thanks to Ali Ordoobadi, President of the French Automotive and Parts Makers Association in Japan, for the opportunity to present UAMC to automotive industry leaders and investors, and to Susumu Kataoka, President of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization).

Our successful presentation at the Smart Manufacturing Summit booth led to a series of business meetings with representatives from influential communities and officials. On March 18, we began by presenting UAMC activities to Ukraine's Ambassador to Japan, Serhiy Korsunsky. Thanks to years of work by the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, cooperation memorandums between our countries were signed in February 2024. We thank the Ambassador for his high praise of the Ukrainian booth and his support.

Our delegation then met with Japanese automotive associations, including Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA), representing 413 companies with 2,000 production sites worldwide. We presented UAMC to Director Yoshio Nakato and discussed potential collaboration. We are glad to note that two Japanese component manufacturers, Fujikura and Yadzaki, are already operating in Ukraine.

The following day, we met with Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), where General Manager Aoki Yasuo outlined the main trends in the automotive industry and emphasized Japan’s interest in investing in Ukraine. Currently, the association includes 14 Japanese manufacturers (Toyota, Mazda, Honda, and others). We are pleased that Isuzu is resuming vehicle production in Ukraine. Our meeting resulted in an agreement to organize an informational webinar for Japanese manufacturers, showcasing Ukraine's investment potential in the automotive sector.

We also held meetings with Japan's official government agencies responsible for developing relations with Ukraine. Since 2006, we have sought opportunities for cooperation with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), and we now expect this collaboration to take place. We thank JICA Ukraine Head Kobuyakawa Toru for the meeting and discussions on potential collaboration steps, as well as the opportunity to implement Japanese expertise in Ukrainian manufacturing.

We were delighted to meet Susumu Kataoka, President of JETRO, at the UAMC presentation during the Smart Manufacturing Summit. We appreciate his positive feedback and the invitation to JETRO's main office in Tokyo, where we presented UAMC members and discussed collaboration opportunities to develop Ukraine's innovative automotive industry.

We understand that we are taking the first step in building long-term, trust-based relationships. Transparency and honesty form the foundation of our cooperation with Japanese partners.

We thank all our partners for their help in organizing these meetings. We are studying relevant experiences, refining our export strategies, and building partnerships with major players in the global market. Our mission is to rebuild Ukraine.

This project is implemented by the Ukrainian Automotive and Mobility Cluster with support from the USAID "Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine." This USAID program supports Ukrainian businesses to enhance their competitiveness in both domestic and international markets, assists in creating a simplified and transparent business climate, and provides Ukrainian companies with opportunities to benefit from international trade.