The 3rd investment forum exploring cooperation between Japanese and Turkish companies in third-country markets was held in Tokyo, where participants discussed cooperation through specific examples involving Japanese and Turkish companies and expressed hopes for the early conclusion of an EPA.
The 3rd Japan-Türkiye Investment Forum, held in Tokyo on 6 November 2026, focused on exchanges between Japanese and Turkish companies and cooperation in third-country markets, and was co-hosted by JETRO, the UNIDO Tokyo Office, and the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. In the keynote address, Vice President Bekir Polat cited Türkiye's proximity to Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa, as well as its young population, technology talent and domestic market scale, and expressed expectations for opportunities for cooperation in neighboring countries. The early conclusion of a Japan-Türkiye EPA also drew attention as a foundation for promoting collaboration between companies from the two countries.
The panel discussion presented examples combining Japanese companies' technological and financial capabilities with the on-the-ground execution capabilities of Turkish companies. 川金コアテック announced that it aims to expand into the UAE, Lebanon and Central Asia in cooperation with Turkish companies. Gakken Holdings outlined a policy of developing its business in Iraq, Azerbaijan and other markets by combining Japanese-style expertise in industrial workforce development with the Turkish side's customer base. At the same time, it was pointed out that companies are not selected simply because they are Japanese, and that they need to understand local issues and the needs of business partners before translating their technologies and expertise into specific business models.