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Eastern Economic Forum

Japanese companies consider participation in Silk Road Economic Belt

Hokkaido Bank Board Chairman Yoshihiro Sekihachi said he supports format of priority development territories created to boost development of Russian regions

© AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

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VLADIVOSTOK, September 4. /TASS/. Japanese companies considering possibility to participate in the Silk Road Economic Belt Project and express interest in projects in Russia’s Far East, Hokkaido Bank Board Chairman Yoshihiro Sekihachi told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday.

"Japanese companies consider the possibility of participation in the Silk Road [Economic Belt] project," he said adding that they take active interest in projects in Russia’s Far East. "The bank would want Japanese companies it brought here to invest in the economy of the Far East," he added.

Hokkaido Bank provides assistance to Japanese companies but does not conduct its own investment activity as a commercial bank.

Yoshihiro said he supports format of priority development territories created to boost development of Russian regions. "Priority development territories and the free port of Vladivostok are very good undertakings, and we welcome them. However, the issues of logistics arises, of ensuring this flow of goods. At the same time, we need to solve the issues of ensuring maritime and air traffic between the countries," he noted.

The board chairman also said that the Japanese company plans to start a project on constructing a greenhouse complex in Vladivostok. TASS reported earlier that a similar project is planned in Khabarovsk.

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