Spajić meets with Japan’s Minister of Economic Security: Montenegro–Japan Business Forum to be held by year-end

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić is paying his first official working visit to Japan, where he met with Minister of Economic Security, Science and Technology of Japan Kiuchi Minoru.

From a geographical perspective, Montenegro holds importance for both Europe and Japan. We strongly support your efforts to strengthen the economy and elevate your country’s standing in the international community. Japan and Montenegro share the values of democracy and the rule of law, and there is substantial potential to deepen our bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, science, and innovation, said Minister Kiuchi, who hosted a working dinner in honor of Prime Minister Spajić’s visit to Tokyo.

Prime Minister Spajić expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and the growing interest shown by Japanese investors in Montenegro. He emphasized that the visit has laid the groundwork for intensifying bilateral contacts in the coming period.

Given that most Japanese companies with operations in Europe are headquartered in London or Vienna, it was agreed that one of these cities will host the Montenegro–Japan Business Forum by the end of this year. The forum is expected to serve as a catalyst for strengthening economic ties and business exchange between the two countries.

We have very ambitious plans and aim to build long-lasting partnerships. I believe that establishing the conditions to open an Embassy of Montenegro in Tokyo by the end of this year would significantly enhance our visibility in Japan and across Southeast Asia, stated Prime Minister Spajić.

The meeting highlighted a wide range of opportunities for cooperation—particularly in tourism, energy, maritime affairs, railway infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction. In that context, it was agreed that a team of experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)—whose representatives also attended the meeting—will visit Montenegro to prepare joint initiatives and support the intensification of cooperation across sectors.

As Minister Kiuchi is also a Member of the House of Representatives, interest was expressed in establishing a Japan–Montenegro Parliamentary Friendship Group, which would further institutionalize and strengthen bilateral relations.

Minister Kiuchi described Prime Minister Spajić’s visit as highly successful and expressed his firm belief that it will give a strong new impetus to deepening ties in all areas of mutual interest.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Education, Science and Innovation Anđela Jakšić Stojanović and Minister of Finance Novica Vuković.