The Lviv Japan Business Forum, aimed at promoting business exchange between Japan and Ukraine, was held in Lviv, western Ukraine, on 24 September, with approximately 350 people participating, including online attendees. Local authorities and stakeholders explored opportunities for future cooperation.
The Lviv Japan Business Forum, themed around business exchange between Japan and Ukraine, was held in Lviv, western Ukraine, on 24 September and organized by the Lviv city government and others. Approximately 350 people participated, including online attendees.
The mayor of Lviv delivered remarks at the forum, praising Japan's active involvement in Ukraine's economic recovery and introducing plans to establish Japan Desk Lviv, as well as the precedent of a base in Düsseldorf, Germany. The forum also noted that Germany, Norway and Finland had shown interest in establishing desks in the city in 2026.
The forum's panel discussions featured the experience and outlook of Japanese companies including Renesas Electronics, Rakuten Symphony and COGNANO. Participants discussed shared challenges, including infrastructure resilience and digital transformation, as well as potential cooperation between companies in the two countries. Examples of Ukrainian companies pursuing exports to Japan were also presented, and the importance of long-term relationships was highlighted.
The Lviv city government explained that it plans to continue holding business forums from 2027 onward. As a follow-on initiative, the forum introduced key points for doing business in the Japanese market and expressed hopes for stronger cooperation between the two countries.