Plenković: Great interest in strengthening economic cooperation between Croatia and Japan

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met today in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The two prime ministers confirmed the excellent political relations between Croatia and Japan, and advocated for further strengthening of economic cooperation and mutual investments. At Akasaka Palace, the prime minister met with Crown Prince Akishino, and also met with representatives of the Japanese Business Federation and members of the Japanese Parliament.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is visiting Japan this week, starting in Tokyo where he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The meeting confirmed the excellent political relations between Croatia and Japan, with a commitment to further strengthening economic cooperation and mutual investments, and Prime Minister Plenković thanked his Japanese counterpart for his support for Croatia's membership in the OECD.

"We exchanged views on global security challenges and the importance of urgently stabilizing the situation in the Middle East and ending the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. We stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine and achieving a just peace," said Prime Minister Plenković.

He added that Japan is organizing the International Donors' Conference for Humanitarian Demining of Ukraine in October this year, after Croatia hosted the first conference in Zagreb in 2023.

Positions on Ukraine and the Middle East

Prime Minister Plenković stressed that the positions of the Croatian and Japanese governments are practically identical, both in condemning the Russian aggression on Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel, and in all efforts to prevent additional civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and create the conditions for a ceasefire that would ultimately lead to a peace agreement and a two-state solution.

"They clearly condemned the Russian aggression, they are concerned about the continuation of this aggression and the repercussions on security in their part of the world," said Plenković.

"We see Japan as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region. We share common values ​​of freedom and democracy and respect for the rules-based international order," said the Croatian Prime Minister, adding that, as the host of the next meeting of the Three Seas Initiative, which will be held in 2026, he congratulated Japan on becoming a strategic partner of the initiative in which we can further strengthen the economic dimension of our relations.

Meeting with Crown Prince Akishino and Members of Parliament

Prime Minister Plenković met with Crown Prince Akishino at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo and invited him to visit Croatia.

He recalled that the Crown Prince had already visited Croatia in 2013 and that he had told him that he had a very fond memory of that visit and expressed his hope that he would visit us again.

"We look forward to further developing the partnership between Croatia and Japan, based on mutual respect and shared democratic values," the Prime Minister said on that occasion.

He also visited the Japanese Parliament, where he met with Minister of State in the Office of the Japanese Prime Minister and President of the Japan-Croatia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Kiyoto Tsuji, as well as with Japanese officials and members of Parliament.

He assessed that the new generation of Japanese politicians has a great interest in Croatia and in strengthening cooperation.

With Japanese businessmen on the possibilities of further investment in Croatia

At the Japanese business federation Keidanren, Prime Minister Plenković met with the President of the Committee for Europe Makoto Takashima, also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group.

He also met with Riku Yazaki, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yazaki Corporation, a company that is the 11th largest global supplier in the automotive industry, and has been successfully operating in Croatia since 1999 and employs around 130 highly educated employees.

They discussed the possibilities of further investment by Japanese companies in Croatia, citing the example of the Yazaki company, which manufactures components for the automotive industry.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in Croatia it is not a production facility, but their design center, where 90 percent of the 130 employees are highly educated, and announced that Yazaki intends to continue investing in its branch in Zagreb, which has a regional and even European role.
The company is monitoring developments in the automotive markets and, accordingly, is making new investments, and we have invited them to maintain their presence and, as time goes on, to increase it, the Prime Minister added.

"A similar message has been sent to large Japanese companies that want to take advantage of Croatia's good geopolitical position, given the large investments we have made in transport infrastructure in recent years," said the Prime Minister, explaining that he was also referring to motorways, airports and seaports, as well as upcoming investments in railways and energy infrastructure.

He also mentioned the Adriatic oil pipeline, which is beneficial to all our neighbours, and the huge investments of almost 600 million euros in new gas pipelines being built in Croatia so that we can transport hydrogen in the future, which is made possible by the so-called EU Repower instrument.

More than 120 Croatian companies at economic forum

Trade between Croatia and Japan has grown by 18 percent in the first six months of this year, the Prime Minister said, adding that more than 120 Croatian businessmen and institutions will participate in the Croatian-Japanese business forum during EXPO.
 
"Croatia has achieved an A level investment credit rating according to three leading global agencies, is recording strong GDP growth and is close to membership in the OECD," emphasized Plenković, adding that, in this context, the desire to strengthen economic cooperation and increase mutual investments between Croatia and Japan has been expressed.

He particularly emphasized cooperation in the automotive industry, energy, high-tech and digital sectors, as well as the green transition, and the fact that Croatia exports to Japan a product that is highly valued on the Japanese market - top-quality tuna.

"We also highlighted the priorities of the Croatian presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, which connects the Baltic, Black Sea and Adriatic, which is an opportunity to connect Croatia as the Mediterranean gateway to Central Europe with the economy and market of Japan," said Plenković.

EXPO 2025 contributes to the promotion of Croatia in Japan

On Sunday, Prime Minister Plenković will participate in the National Day of the Republic of Croatia at the EXPO 2025 exhibition in Osaka.

"Participation in EXPO 2025 in Japan contributes to the promotion of Croatia in Japan, improving our overall relations. Croatia and Japan will continue to cooperate well on a number of foreign policy and security issues, including support for Ukraine, stability in the Indo-Pacific region and further development of the Three Seas Initiative," he said.

He added that at this year's EXPO we are participating with the theme "Croatia - Climate Diversity".

Our pavilion presents the specificities of our climate, but also Croatian innovations, culture and natural beauty.

Plenković said that Croatia used this EXPO in Osaka to combine two main themes: climate change and high technology.

"Our pavilion is specific in that it is designed in such a way that, thanks to meteorological stations in Croatia, based on the data transmitted in that pavilion, we have the feeling that we know exactly what the current climate situation is in a Croatian city. In that respect, it is unique," he said.

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