Foreign Ministry hopes to promote Japan's interest in closer cooperation with Three Seas Initiative region

RIGA - The Foreign Ministry held a meeting with representatives of Japan to promote Japan's interest in closer cooperation with the Three Seas Initiative region, LETA was told at the ministry's press office. 

On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andris Pelss participated in an online conference on developing cooperation between the Three Seas Initiative region and Japan. The conference was organized to inform Japan's representatives about the goals of the Three Seas Initiative, principles of its investment fund, as well as the region's potential and opportunities for the Japanese business and investment sector. 

On June 20 and 21 Riga will host a summit and business forum of the Three Seas Initiative. 

"As it hosts the summit and business forum, Latvia aims to connect the region's development vision and practical activity to promote the region's sustainable growth and resilience in today's complicated geopolitical situation," said Pelss. 

The state secretary voiced hope that this conference will promote Japan's interest in closer cooperation with the Three Seas Initiative region and underlined that the participation of Japan's representatives in the summit and business forum is very welcome. 

"Today, more than ever countries of the Three Seas Initiative region want to strengthen cooperation with likeminded partners, as well as the region's resilience in the sectors of energy, transport and digitalization, highlighting our region as a place for smart and sustainable investment," said Pelss.

One of the Japanese representatives' key messages to Japanese companies was that the Three Seas Initiative region provides promising opportunities to the business and investment sector, considering its economic potential, growth indicators and geopolitical significance.

The Three Seas Initiative is a cooperation format launched in August 2016 by 12 EU member states: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.