interview
Mr. Kentaro Otani, Economic Attaché of the Japanese Embassy to Serbia
Growing and Getting to Know Each Other I think that a wide economic cooperation between a large country and a rather small one is possible, if each side evaluates the economic value of the other. Speaking of the relationship between Japan and Serbia, Serbia has a smaller market in itself than Japan has, but Serbia has its strength
current bilateral economic relations between Japan and Serbia, I consider that there is still room for them to be strengthened. There are only three major investments from Japan in Serbia so far. Firstly, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) invested in Senta, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and their factory started its operation in 2007. Secondly, Asahi Beer Co. together with Mitsui Corporation commissioned the production of food supplements from yeast to Alltech in Senta. Thirdly, Panasonic opened its factory in Svilajnac in 2010.
O
ne of the major obstacles that an investor encounters in choosing a destination is a lack of knowledge about the country in which the investment might be made. This, according to Mr. Kentaro Otani, Economic Attaché of the Japanese Embassy to Serbia, is something which has been an issue between Japan and Serbia. Mr. Otani speaks of the investments which have already been made and the potential for further growth as the two countries make efforts to get to know each other – in terms of cultural values and real market needs.
• Is it realistic to expect a wide economic cooperation between a large country, such as Japan, and a rather small one, such as Serbia?
The relationship between Japan and Serbia is very good. But concerning current bilateral economic relations between Japan and Serbia, I consider that there is still room for them to be strengthened
• How developed do you think are the economic relations between Serbia and Japan? - The relationship between Japan and Serbia is very good. But concerning 66 |
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- I think that a wide economic cooperation between a large country and a rather small one is possible, if each side evaluates the economic value of the
other. Of course, the scale of the each country’s market is one of the important elements, but the gap between the scales can be filled in by the strength of a country with its smaller market. Speaking of the relationship between Japan and Serbia, Serbia has a smaller market in itself than Japan has, but Serbia has its strength. Serbia is situated in the centre of the Balkan region, has good economic relationships with neighbouring countries and preferential trade agreements with the EU, the US, Russia, and Turkey, etc. This strength reinforces the economic potential of Serbia, and makes Serbia more attractive for Japanese companies when they consider investments in Serbia. • Do you think that the differences in the culture, the value system and other differences between Serbia and Japan are aggravating or mitigating factors in the economic cooperation between our two countries? - I cannot deny that the differences can be a factor to aggravate economic cooperation between the two countries, because the difference tends to be a source of misunderstanding. So, it is very important for each country’s people to get interested in the other coun-