Katsumata Takahiko, Japan’s ambassador to Türkiye, highlighted the improving investment environment in Türkiye, emphasizing the country’s strategic advantages and the potential for increased collaboration between Japanese and Turkish companies.
Speaking during an interview with the Turkish news channel Ekonomim, Takahiko addressed economic policies, third-country cooperation and earthquake preparedness efforts.
Bilateral cooperation strengthens
Takahiko noted that over 250 Japanese companies operate in Türkiye, many of which collaborate with Turkish firms across various sectors. Highlighting large-scale infrastructure projects such as Marmaray and the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, he expressed optimism about future partnerships between the two nations.
“Japanese companies bring advanced technology and expertise, while Turkish firms demonstrate resilience in challenging environments,” Takahiko said, stressing the potential for new value creation through collaboration.
He also discussed third-country cooperation, particularly in Central Asia and Africa, where Turkish and Japanese construction firms have worked together on various projects. The ambassador pointed out opportunities for reconstruction in Ukraine and other regions as areas of future collaboration.
Economic partnership agreement could boost investments
Takahiko mentioned the possible signing of the Japan-Türkiye Economic Partnership Agreement as a key factor in further improving Türkiye’s economic prospects. He believes the agreement could encourage Japanese companies to increase their investments in Türkiye, especially in high-value sectors such as automobile manufacturing, electric machinery and food-related industries.
“Türkiye’s strategic location provides access to multiple markets, which could benefit both countries economically,” Takahiko said. He also highlighted that Türkiye’s transition to orthodox economic policies in May 2023 has already led to improvements in its credit rating from major agencies.
Earthquake preparedness and disaster management
Ambassador Takahiko also touched on earthquake preparedness, a critical issue for both Japan and Türkiye. He emphasized the importance of seismic intensity measurement in Türkiye, noting that the country’s reliance on magnitude readings does not fully convey the impact of earthquakes on the surface.
“Establishing a culture of seismic intensity measurement could make Turkish society more resilient to earthquakes,” he said.
Takahiko also highlighted the work of Japanese firms, such as Kawakin Core-Tech, which opened an office in Istanbul to focus on seismic isolation technology and shock absorbers to strengthen buildings against earthquakes.
Türkiye’s economic shift
The ambassador praised Türkiye’s shift from domestic demand to external demand-driven growth, stating that the country’s geopolitical advantages position it as a hub for trade, transportation and supply chains across Africa, Europe and Asia.
He reiterated that Japan and Türkiye are expected to continue expanding economic ties and partnerships, especially in third-country investments.
