Russians can feel for themselves how life is changing for the better

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Hiroshige Sekō is the man directly responsible for developing economic relations between Japan and Russia. As a frequent visitor to our country, he shares his views on the prospects for economic cooperation with the Russian Far East, and on Japan’s priorities in the region.

The 8-Point Cooperation Plan is being updated as we speak

— 2018 has been designated a ‘crossover year’ for Russia and Japan. What does this mean for economic relations between the two countries?

— This is the first year in the history of Japanese—Russian relations to be declared both the Year of Russia in Japan and the Year of Japan in Russia. The plans for this ‘crossover year’ were announced as one of the outcomes of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan in December 2016 as part of efforts to expand humanitarian contacts. The aim of the year is to achieve a deeper mutual understanding between our two peoples, through fundamental expansion of people- to-people interaction. The Japan- Russia Year encompasses a wide range of areas beyond culture alone. Economic issues in particular have been identified as an important area for cooperation.

As part of the Year of Japan in Russia, Japan took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum as a guest country in May 2018. I myself participated in the Forum, alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. In the course of the Japanese—Russian business dialogue, the leaders of both countries and leading business executives were able to engage in an open exchange of opinions on how to realize the potential of bilateral economic relations.

In addition to this, other important events are being held which are contributing to the implementation of the Eight-Point Cooperation Plan, including the opening of Hokuto Rehabilitation Centre in Vladivostok, launch ceremony of a new production line at a Takeda Pharmaceuticals` plant in Yaroslavl, and business seminars devoted to urban planning in Russia. I hope that the events of the Year of Japan in Russia and the Year of Russia in Japan will activate exchanges in the economic field and thus strengthen Japanese—Russian economic relations.

— What is the status of these relations at the moment?

— The Eight-Point Cooperation Plan is being materialized. The plan was proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe at a summit meeting which took place in May 2016 in Sochi. The main purpose of the plan is to use Japanese technology and experience that allow Russian citizens to feel for themselves how their lives are changing for the better. For example, significant results have been achieved in extending healthy life expectancy and in creating a pleasant urban environment, including by reducing traffic congestion. These achievements make a direct contribution to the enhancing of the living standards of Russian citizens.

During the meeting in May this year, the two leaders welcomed plans for around 130 projects created by private companies. Tangible actions have already begun on approximately half of these.

Work is also progressing on the creation of financing systems which will provide support for the Cooperation Plan, including a joint investment mechanism from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

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BACKGROUND

Hokuto Rehabilitation Centre

The creation of a rehabilitation centre in Primorsky Territory was first discussed at the Second Eastern Economic Forum in 2016. The Hokuto Centre opened less than two years later, on 16 May 2018, as one of the projects under a Japan—Russia economic cooperation plan. Investors in the project include the JGC Corporation and Hokuto Social Medical Corporation. The medical facility specializes in patient rehabilitation following major injuries, surgical procedures, and strokes. Alongside traditional methods such as manual therapy, the facility also makes use of the latest developments, including exoskeletons and modern fitness equipment. The facility is able to receive around 100 patients every day.

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As the minister responsible, I have been endeavouring to demonstrate as many concrete results as possible from the Cooperation Plan, including new projects at the East Economic Forum. I would also like to make it more ambitious still, including with respect to the themes to be discussed at the Forum.

Japan’s priorities: agriculture, forestry, fishing, infrastructure, and energy

— What do you think about the changes taking place in the Russian Far East? How do Japanese companies and investors assess these changes?

— Thanks to advanced special economic zones (ASEZs) and the Vladivostok Free Port regime, a number of Japanese companies active in the Russian Far East are enjoying a range of incentives, including tax benefits. Their assessment of efforts on the Russian side is positive.

At the same time, Japanese companies do not currently have sufficient information about business and systems in the Russian Far East. In March this year, a presentation was held in Tokyo with the aim of facilitating investment in the Russian Far East. More than 130 people attended and frankly exchanged their opinions. I also welcome the opening a Tokyo Office of the Far East Investment and Export Agency. I expect the Russian side to be more active in providing information to Japanese companies and investors.

The Japanese Government is placing a great deal of emphasis on cooperation in three areas: developing agriculture, forestry and fishing in the Russian Far East; improving infrastructure to create an export base; and developing energy. In February this year, JBIC created a company in the Russian Far East with the purpose of promoting joint Japanese—Russian investment in the region. Contracts have already been concluded with Japanese companies to provide mediation and advice with associated procedures. In July this year, a joint delegation of government officials and business representatives visited Primorsky Territory and Amur Region to discuss cooperation in the agricultural sector. In addition will continue to support efforts to expand cooperation in the Russian Far East.

— What projects in the energy sector are of the most interest to Japanese players?

— Considering Russia’s enormous resource potential and geographical proximity cooperation in the energy sector is important for diversifying the sources of Japanese energy imports and ensuring stable supplies. As Prime Minister Abe noted in his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, we envisage the development of mutually beneficial relations between Japan, which is the world’s largest importer of LNG and possesses extensive experience in shaping markets and developing pricing mechanisms, and Russia, with its enormous resource reserves.

There are a multitude of Russian oil and gas projects in which Japanese companies are very interested. For example, the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects are producing crude oil and LNG. Negotiations are taking place as part of the Sakhalin-2 project to expand the third stage of an LNG plant.

Japanese companies have also contributed to building a plant in the Yamal LNG project which I also inspected at the end of April. The plant was launched at the end of last year. Negotiations between Russia and Japanese companies are also in progress on a project to build an LNG transshipment terminal on Kamchatka, as well as on the Arctic LNG-2 project.

More information is needed about the Russian market

— In an interview with Tatsuo Yasunaga, the President and CEO of Mitsui and Co., in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum magazine, noted that approximately 200–300 Japanese companies are presently active in Russia, whereas there are 32,000 Japanese companies doing business in China. What can Russia do to attract Japanese small and medium-sized businesses?

— Small and medium-sized businesses have been taken into account in the Eight-Point Cooperation Plan. Japan is supporting Japanese small and mediumsized companies doing business in Russia using the small and medium-sized business platform created in 2016. This includes helping them to take part in exhibitions held in Russia, including Innoprom, as well as sending corporate missions and organizing business matching between Japanese and Russian companies. As a result of these efforts, Japanese companies have begun doing business in such sectors as Japanese cuisine and services, in Russia.

On the other hand, Japanese companies are still saying that they do not receive enough information about the Russian market and Russian companies. They also have concerns about the instability of the Russian legal system and complex procedures associated with investment. I would like to ask the Russian Government and business representatives to continue to work on improving the investment climate and also to provide more information about the Russian market and its attractiveness.

— Japan is a global leader in the technology sector. Russia is also devoting considerable efforts to developing its digital economy. Does Japan have any experience and approaches which Russia can adopt?

— As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between our two countries in the digital economy, I signed a joint declaration on cooperation in the digital economy with Minister of Economic Development and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Trade and Economic Cooperation with Japan Maxim Oreshkin in September last year, following which we developed a joint plan of action in May this year. We are using various meetings and events to work on a number of joint projects together.

As part of the Eight-Point Cooperation Plan, Japanese companies in possession of highly advanced technologies are working on further improving the lives of Russian citizens via a number of digital projects, including systems to assist with remote medical diagnosis and the implementation of high-tech traffic light systems.

Japan enjoys advantages in the manufacturing sector of the economy based on its wide-ranging technological capabilities. As Digitalization and the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence are expanding, Japan is working to improve competitiveness in this way, and is promoting the concept of Connected Industries, which aims to create new values and solve social challenges by linking different kinds of activity, companies, people, machines, and other facilities, and at the same time, to my knowledge, Russia, where a Digital Economy in the Russian Federation programme is being promoted, is home to world-class artificial intelligence developers. The country possesses significant technological capabilities in the fields of software and information security.

Japan and Russia have potential here to establish mutually beneficial relations, and to achieve new economic growth and cooperation by making use of their existing advantages in these areas. I would like to continue working on strengthening cooperation on digital economy projects.