BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Uzbekistan and
Japanese companies are exploring new investment, technology and
financing opportunities in critical minerals.
This was reflected in the statement by the Uzbekistan
Technological Metals Complex (TMK), following a meeting between the
management of TMK and a delegation of Japanese business
representatives led by Masayuki Tanimoto, Chairman of the
Japan-Uzbekistan Committee for Economic Cooperation and Senior
Corporate Adviser to the President of Mitsubishi Corporation.
Accoeding to the information, representatives of Mitsubishi
Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Innoventier LPC, URYU & ITOGA,
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), the Japan Business
Association ROTOBO and other organizations participated in the
meeting.
"The discussions focused on expanding Uzbekistan-Japan
cooperation in critical minerals, developing investment and
financing mechanisms, attracting advanced technologies, producing
higher-value-added products and establishing sustainable supply
chains," TMK said in a statement.
The Japanese side emphasized the importance of diversifying
critical raw-material supply chains and developing long-term ties
with reliable partners, identifying Uzbekistan as a promising
partner in this area.
“Japan views Uzbekistan as a promising partner for diversifying
critical raw-material supply chains and developing reliable,
long-term cooperation,” the Japanese side said.
The sides discussed a number of practical areas for cooperation,
including supplying critical metals to the Japanese market and
attracting Japanese companies to prospective mining and processing
projects in Uzbekistan.
They also considered opportunities to involve Japanese financial
institutions in project financing and jointly produce
higher-value-added products at the Future Metals technology
park.
Additional proposals included launching joint projects through
the R&D Park and introducing advanced Japanese technologies
into Uzbekistan’s critical-minerals sector.
The cooperation could help Uzbekistan move beyond the extraction
of mineral resources toward deeper processing and the production of
higher-value-added materials, while giving Japanese companies
access to new sources of critical raw materials.
The parties agreed to step up work on prospective projects,
continue targeted negotiations with Japanese companies and
financial institutions, and develop specific investment,
technological and financing proposals.
The meeting reflects growing economic cooperation between
Uzbekistan and Japan in strategic industries, with critical
minerals emerging as an important area for investment, technology
transfer and supply-chain development.
