On March 25, Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts President Zigmantas Dargevičius welcomed a Japanese delegation from the Fukuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including the Honorary Consul General of Japan, Chairman of the Fukuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and President and CEO of Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd, Mr. Shigehiro Komaru, along with his team.
The meeting was also attended by Kaunas Chamber Vice President Vydas Damalakas, board members Saulius Valunta and Linas Skardžiukas, as well as Chamber members, including “Monte Pacis” Director Indra Ramanauskienė, Hegelmann Group Director of Asian Market Development Arnas Ukeniekas, Chamber Secretary General Rimas Varkulevičius, and Head of the International Relations and Protocol Department Ingrida Braziūnienė.
“Over the past eight months, our cooperation has achieved significant results. We have exchanged valuable information about our respective chambers, cities, and businesses, which has helped us better understand each other’s cultures and opportunities. In October of last year, we signed a memorandum of agreement committing to deepening bilateral relations in economics, education, and culture, as well as exchanging relevant information. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to take another step forward and move to a new level of cooperation. I encourage us to begin planning specific actions and directions that will allow us further to strengthen the ties and friendship between our countries. We see the potential to work together and believe that we can achieve even more together,” said Z. Dargevičius, welcoming the Japanese delegation in Kaunas for the third time.
During the meeting, it was proposed that, considering the specifics of the Fukuyama region, companies or representative offices could be established in the Kaunas region, where there is already developed energy, transport, and environmental infrastructure. Suitable locations could include the Kaunas Free Economic Zone or the Marijampolė Free Economic Zone, as well as other areas in the region. Given the convenient transport corridors – the Via Baltica and Rail Baltica connections – and the growing potential of the Three Seas Initiative (connecting 12 EU countries via the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic seas, with Kaunas geographically at the centre), the idea was to set up logistics or distribution centres for Fukuyama-based companies or use existing centres through partnerships.
There was also discussion about the EU and Lithuania’s goals to develop the defence industry sector, with proposals to invest in the capital of such companies or establish firms providing components, construction materials (e.g., steel products and electronics).
Kaunas and its surroundings are attractive destinations for foreign tourists, so the expansion of joint tourism activities was also discussed. Considering Kaunas’ status as a university city, which Fukuyama also shares, and with the use of international study programs, the meeting explored the possibility of inviting students from Fukuyama to study in selected disciplines and, in the future, further strengthen economic ties between Japan and Europe.
At the end of the meeting, business cards and symbolic gifts were exchanged. Special thanks were extended to Chamber member UAB Choco Group for the gifts presented to the Japanese delegation participants.
Both the Japanese and Lithuanian representatives unanimously agreed to actively cooperate in the future, exchange detailed information, and continue to deepen bilateral relations in the fields of economics, education, and culture.
