澳门六合彩

As a result of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Ukraine will face an extensive reconstruction process. In addition to addressing immediate humanitarian concerns, the country will have to revive its industries to spur long-term economic growth and self-sufficiency. Ukraine therefore needs the support of the international community to overcome the crisis it is facing at this critical juncture. Here, Japan in particular has arisen as a core supporter of Ukraine.聽

Japan鈥檚 Engagement

Japan鈥檚 involvement in Ukraine has surprised numerous international observers because it represents a major Asia-Pacific power taking on a key role in a primarily聽 and marks Japan shedding its previous reputation as a 鈥�.鈥�

Furthermore, Japanese involvement in Ukraine spotlights the聽in rebuilding the country, as business and economic actors can aid long-term Ukrainian economic recovery and strengthen bilateral ties through corporate cooperation.聽

One high-level conference in Tokyo emphasized the promising opportunities associated with Ukraine's business environment and economic sectors, along with Japan's role in helping Ukrainian industries build momentum. In February 2024 the United Nations Development Programme聽 and the Japanese External Trade Organization ()听 the Inclusive Economic Growth and the Role of the Private Sector in Ukraine鈥� Reconstruction event.聽

A key part of the program addressed the role that micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) play in the Ukrainian economy. MSMEs聽 99.98 percent of all Ukrainian business entities, provide 74 percent of all jobs, and create 64 percent of value added.聽

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, the Ukrainian economy has experienced heavy blows, as highlighted by the following statistics:

• 厂辞尘别听 of MSMEs in Ukraine temporarily suspended or fully terminated operations.
• More than聽 of companies reported financial losses.
• In 2022, Ukraine鈥檚 GDP fell by about聽.
• The United Nations warned that聽 could become impoverished if the war continues.聽

Despite these seemingly grim assessments, not all hope is lost. One term frequently applied to Ukrainian MSMEs鈥攁nd to Ukraine as a whole during this time of national crisis鈥攊s 鈥渞esilience.鈥� As of October 2023,聽 had resumed operations, and only 9.6 percent of such companies are at risk of closing permanently.

Ukraine鈥檚 Affordances

Ukraine has long possessed underrecognized potential in terms of human capital and the vitality of its economic sectors, both of which could benefit Japan. As the event highlighted, two of the most prominent areas are digital and IT services and green innovation.聽

Digital and IT Services. Before the war, Ukraine had a reputation as an 鈥溾�� in terms of its digital and IT capabilities. Digital and IT services are one of the聽鈥攑ossibly the only one鈥攖hat have grown and attracted investment since the start of the war in February 2022.聽

In recognition of Ukrainian prowess in the field, Tokyo has sought to enhance its digital cooperation with Ukraine through such forums as聽 to share best digital practices. Japan has offered to promote聽 in terms of IT development, e-government building, and enhanced cybersecurity. All three areas are vital not only for economic development but also for security and defense purposes. And as once innovative Japan has been criticized for its聽 补苍诲听 Ukrainian expertise and ingenuity could help Japan regain its status as a digital pioneer and global leader in the field.聽

Green Innovation. Another notable sector is green innovation. Ukraine鈥檚 long-standing status as the聽 solidifies its reputation as an聽. In March 2024, Japan granted聽to support Ukrainian farmers and agriculturalists. This investment was made in part to promote and expand the availability of Ukrainian agricultural products on the Japanese market, especially since Japan鈥檚 lack of arable land, high degree of urbanization, and shortage of agricultural workers聽.

Ukraine also has significant potential in terms of developing renewable energy sources such as聽 补苍诲听, though it requires聽 to build up such industries so they can achieve their full capacities. Japan supports many green transition initiatives as a means of supporting the聽 and as a way to reduce its聽.

Japan is an international leader in infrastructure development; the natural-disaster-prone country has a 鈥溾�� policy with respect to resilient rebuilding. With the widespread need for reconstruction in Ukraine, Japan could utilize its expertise in this field to establish green infrastructure in Ukraine and promote environmentally friendly cooperation both bilaterally and globally.

Setting the Foundations

Japanese business organizations have recognized the advantages of investing in Ukraine and have taken steps to establish business-to-business links in Ukraine, especially by fortifying existing MSMEs and creating opportunities to establish new ones. JETRO has stated its聽 to open a representative office in Kyiv, and it has created multiple platforms to facilitate Japanese-Ukrainian private sector cooperation. These initiatives include聽, a website matching international companies to preferred products and sectors, 补苍诲听, a channel that connects international businesses for partnership. JETRO has also cooperated with such intergovernmental and governmental agencies as the UNDP and the聽to develop knowledge bases and networks. These examples highlight the joint role of the public and private sectors in facilitating Japanese-Ukrainian collaboration.聽

Despite the difficult and unpredictable road ahead, Ukraine has the backing of Japan to aid it in its recovery process. While political interaction will undoubtedly be essential for ongoing cooperation between Tokyo and Kyiv, business ties will also be foundational for rebuilding Ukraine and creating mutually beneficial opportunities for both countries in the future.

The opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author and do not reflect the views of the Kennan Institute.