EXCLUSIVE: Japanese Prefectures, EU to Boost Economic Cooperation

Tokyo, April 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese prefectural governments and the European Union will hold their first working-level meeting in Tokyo on April 21 to discuss ways to boost economic cooperation between the two sides. Prefectural officials will provide trade diplomats from EU member countries stationed in Japan with information about their key industries and support programs for foreign firms. EU officials will explain economic policies and examples of cooperation with Japanese prefectures. The National Governors’ Association, a group of Japanese prefectural governments, hopes that the meeting will create opportunities for European firms to operate in Japan and for Japanese and European universities to do joint research. Japanese prefectural governors and ambassadors from EU member countries have held talks since 2024 and are scheduled to meet in early June. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]