The President of the Republic at the meeting stressed that Estonian-Japanese economic relations over the last years had developed rapidly and our cooperation possibilities after Estonia's entry into the European Union would continue to expand. Estonia is interested in cooperation with Japan in order to receive Japanese investments as well as to increase its exports to Japan. President Rüütel noted that Japan might take interest in Estonia's achievements in technology sector, but also, with a view to promoting tourism, in values of Estonia's nature. Estonia's good infrastructure, favourable location as a transit country and high educational level of people supported various possibilities of development.
Hajime Sasaki said that the present visit to Estonia for the Japan Business Federation was already third in a row. He also mentioned that, for example, Estonia's e-Government and strong potential for tourism had made a positive impression on them, and expressed hope that the information gathered during their visit would help in near future to significantly deepen economic relations between our two countries.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 16, 2004
