My article on perspectives of economic cooperation with Japan was printed in

“Khangalass”

newspaper January 31, 2017.

Photo in article: Meeting with Mr. Horii Manabu, japanese MP, chairman of Japanese cooperation Committee for Sakha Republic.

---

Japan

is part of my life. I was elected  general director of

Sakha – Japan economic cooperation Association

(ASIAS) in 1991 by recommendation of Sakha Republic’s first President Mr. Michail Nikolaev. Since that time, I am working for promotion economic and cultural relations between Russian Federation and Japan, now as a Chairman of Yakut regional branch of

“Russia-Japan” Society.

HISTORY

Photo: Invitation to lecture. Link to my blog on this event: (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/744395

).

I have read a lecture “

Yakutia in Soviet-Japanese economic relations

”  in November 2015, in which I analized 9 economic Soviet – Japanese Agreements  in 1970-80-es.

Out of 9  Agreements there were 6 Agreements which were linked to Yakut ASSR directly: they were – oil and gas exploration by

Siberian natural gas Agreement,

Neryungri coal deposit development  and BAM – Tynda – Berkakit railway construction by

South Yakutia coal development Agreement

, 3

KS Agreements

for Far Eastern  wood export to Japan and

Vostochny port construction Agreement

.

Also, by another Agreement, VAO Dalintorg exported yakut horse meat to Japan.

Photo: Opening of 1st international trade fair in Yakutsk, 1992. (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1027442

).

Cooperation continued in 1990-es. First Sakha-Japanese joint venture “

Sakha-Japan Diamond

” was established in 1991, and japanese master Mr. Watanabe polished first diamond in Sakha Republic in 1992.

Photo: Japanese delegation visited Elga coal deposit in 2004.  (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1026954

)

Feasibility study of Elga coal deposit development was prepared with Japanese companies cooperation.

Photo:

Japan House

in Yakutsk. (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/716111

)

Japanese company “Sakha Diamond Corporation” built “Japan House” in Yakutsk, first commercial property built by foreign investment.

CURRENT STATE

Russian-Japanese relations are improving due to efforts of President Putin and Prime-Minister Abe.

Photo: I was member of russian delegation to Russian-Japan Martial Arts Year and 50th anniversary of Nippon Budokan  in 2014 (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1037528

). Sakha Republic delegation demonstrated ancient martial arts of sakha people (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/714390

).

Japanese companies began to promote projects since 2015. Coal mines development, supply of cogeneration equipment to Vilyuisk and wind power electricity generation equipment to Tiksi negotiations are under way.

Photo: Sakha Republic delegation visited  Japan to observe Green Plant Plant in 2016 (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1044565

).

Experimental tomato green house was built in Syrdakh village near Yakutsk City.

Photo: Japan soccer team in Yakutsk.  (

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1036765

)

Official team of Japan took part at

6th International Children Sports Games “Children of Asia”

in 2016. Japanese team became champions of soccer competition.

Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) visited Japan in December 2016 as a member of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin’s official delegation to Japan. Only 5 governors of Russian regions was included in official delegation. During the President Putin visit 80 agreements were signed, 7 of them related to Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

PERSRECTIVES

In conclusion, I want to mention several directions for cooperation interesting for Japanese companies.

After devastating earthquake of 2011, nuclear power plants are stopped in Japan and lack of electricity is filled with thermal gas and coal power stations. Therefore, Siberia Power gas pipeline construction is a big chance for development of Sakha Republic gas fields and cooperation with Asian countries will only grow.

Japan is importing 90% of its oil from Persian Gulf. Japan reserves of oil for unforeseen situation will last for 250 days. Biggest oil deposits of North East Asia continental part are located in Yakutia. Oil from Sakha Republic can be exported to Asia through East Siberia Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.

South Yakutia coking coal is high quality raw material for metallurgical industry of Japan. Our coking coal is included to Japan blasting furnaces charge. Now there are plans for joint development of Elga, Chulmakan, Inagli coal deposits with Japanese companies.

Japanese thermal power stations use Neryungri SS steam coal. This coal is mined together with coking coal.

Japanese companies have interest to large infrastructural projects: co-generation (power and heat generation), wind power stations, Lena river bridge etc.

Japanese friends are predicting imminent problems with food in near future due to Earth population growth, also due to rise of China, India and Africa living standards. Japanese companies are developing indoor and outdoor Green Plant Plants for vegetables production in hydroponic systems, and have interest to get areas to grow cereals for export to Japan.

In Japan there is negative bank rate. Japanese companies have amassed cash in their bank accounts. Looking at infrastructure and small business situation in Russia, small and medium companies are looking for investment possibilities.

More than 70 years passed since end of WWII, leaders of Russia and Japan are aimed at improving relations between our countries, and I hope that a new breakthrough in economic relations between companies of Russian Federation, Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Japan will take place soon!

This article in russian:

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara/1054763

.

My blog address:

https://dnevniki.ykt.ru/NikBara

My Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSV4lg4V64uH-sr2SU3gdVA?disable_polymer=true