Strengthening the cooperation between Japan and Uzbekistan, the development of entrepreneurial capacity and expansion of business contacts have been set as targets of the fifth Uzbekistan-Japan Business Forum initiated by the Uzbekistan-Japan Center (UJC) held November 21 in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan-Japan Center was established in compliance with the agreement between the governments of Uzbekistan and Japan entered into in October 2000. Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) acted as the Founders of the Center.
The purpose of this public organization is to train specialists for facilitating business development in Uzbekistan, to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen friendly relations between the two countries through communicating various information and introducing the culture and language of Japan to the people in Uzbekistan who show keen interest in this country.
"We want the Uzbekistan-Japan Center to become a real platform for expansion and deepening of not only business but also social and cultural exchanges," - said Co-director of UJC Hirohiko Takata at the opening of the forum.
Over 8000 Uzbek entrepreneurs completed various courses, organized by UJC: including: business management, computer, language and cultural training programs. First PMP (Program Management Professional) was organized in 2001 and as of today more than 1000 people have graduated.
The business forum was attended by over a hundred PMP graduates. In order to share their knowledge and experience, they have organized several communities, including aclub #newenergy alumni club .
The forum also featured reports from representatives of MFERIT, Chamber of Commerce and PMP graduates. Reports of "Industry of hospitality and service" and "Marketing Development in Uzbekistan" presented by UJC teachers, Shoko Usui and Shinobu Fujita introduced the guests with the requisites that allow to achieve success in the services sector and in promotion of marketing projects.
Director General of the Uzbekistan office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Manabu Shimoyashiro told about the problems on which the Uzbek businessmen should focus in order to successfully do business with Japanese partners.
Noting that the relations between, businesses of the two countries are at an insufficient level, except for the government supported projects, he listed a number of positions that prevent their successful development. In particular, the lack of confidence among Japanese businesses to the companies in post-Soviet countries, the lack of experience of the local businesses and others.
