State Minister Kozuki Attends the 27th Türkiye-Japan Joint Business Committee and The 1st Japan-Türkiye Energy Forum

1. The 27th Türkiye-Japan Joint Business Committee

State Minister Kozuki attended the 27th Türkiye-Japan Joint Business Committee in Tokyo, which was held between the Japan-Türkiye Economic Committee of the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK). At the beginning of the meeting, he delivered his remarks and conveyed a message stating his expectations for the further development of Japan-Türkiye economic ties through the opportunity of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Türkiye diplomatic ties in 2024.

Along with this, he witnessed a ceremony announcing a Joint Statement between the Keidanren and DEİK, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on enhancing a partnership to promote decarbonization and green transformation (GX) between Çalık Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Calik Enerji), Türkiye, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), both of which were concluded on the same date as the meeting.

Moreover, State Minister Kozuki held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Republic of Türkiye, who attended the committee's meeting. In the bilateral meeting, the two sides held discussions not only on the early conclusion of a Japan-Türkiye EPA and the enhancement of bilateral economic ties but also on efforts for maintaining and fortifying a multilateral rule-based trade order.

2. The 1st Japan-Türkiye Energy Forum

State Minister Kozuki held the 1st Japan-Türkiye Energy Forum with H.E. Mr. Çonkar, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Türkiye,at during his visit to Japan. Prior to this forum, both State Minister Kozuki and Deputy Minister Çonkar held a bilateral meeting and exchanged views on the future potential for Japan-Türkiye cooperation in the aspect of energy.

Concerning the Japan-Türkiye Energy Forum, in September 2023, ministers of the two countries agreed to coordinate to hold the first Energy Forum (at the Deputy minister level) in Tokyo by the end of 2024. In response, after coordination between the two countries, Japan and Türkiye succeeded in holding the 1st Energy Forum this time.

The launch of a comprehensive framework for energy cooperation between the two countries, which have been advancing efforts for achieving carbon neutrality, is expected to lead to the development of an environment in Japan and Türkiye for promoting business exchange and the cultivation of new business opportunities. At the 1st Energy Forum, the two sides made specific proposals and held proactive discussions concerning the three fields of Energy Efficiency , Renewable Energy, and New Fuels and Technologies, and they confirmed the potential for bilateral cooperation in a wide variety of fields in the two countries. Following the end of the forum, both State Minister Kozuki and Deputy Minister Çonkar signed the ROD(Records of Discussion) of the 1st Japan-Türkiye Energy Forum. Moreover, some companies in Japan and Türkiye signed MOUs (namely between Mitsubishi Corpoation and Çalık Enerji and between Mitsubishi Corporation and DB Tarımsal Enerji) on cooperation in the fields of the new fuels and the circular society, etc.

Division in Charge

1. Middle East and Africa Division, Trade Policy Bureau
2. International Affairs Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy