Japanese ambassador to Iraqi Futoshi Matsumoto speaking to Rudaw on November 1, 2022. Photo: Screenshot/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Japan’s newly-appointed ambassador urged people in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to “look to the East” where he claims the future lies, during an interview aired on Monday with Rudaw’s Nwenar Fatih.
“Come to us, that’s my message to Iraq,” newly-appointed Japanese ambassador Futoshi Matsumoto said while recalling the shared values that exist between Iraq and Japan in terms of economy and traditions.
“We would love to have Iraq to look towards us, towards the East,” the ambassador stated, adding that wisdom traditionally originates from the eastern part of the world.
Ambassador Matsumoto spoke of the numerous Japanese projects underway in Iraq with regards to construction, electricity, water, and building hospitals. He added that four major projects continue in the Kurdistan Region in the fields of electricity, sewage, water, and hydroelectric power stations.
Plans also exist to upgrade Sulaimani museums next year where Japanese archaeologists are currently working.
Matsumoto also expressed his desire to see an increase in Japanese businesses operating in Iraq, stating that at least 17 companies currently exist in the country. “We have to increase that number,” he noted. The ambassador said his main goal and reason for visiting the Kurdistan Region is to continue Tokyo’s cooperation with both Erbil and Baghdad with regards to infrastructure and promoting commerce.
“We need to get to know each other more,” he said while speaking of the importance of establishing “human contact” when doing business, suggesting that gathering should take place between Japanese and Kurdish businessmen in order to achieve this, which he would be keen to facilitate.
He also stated the continued perceived security risk in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are still deterrence to Japanese businesses.
When asked how Japan maintains the high quality of products which it has become renowned for, Matsumoto said that the quality is guaranteed by constant maintenance of the services provided and if this cannot be done, they avoid entering business.
“Please come to japan,” he urges the people of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
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