Ukraine and Japan are launching a joint investment fund and a hub in Osaka
Ukraine and Japan have agreed to establish a joint venture capital fund and an investment hub in Osaka, which is intended to serve as a platform for attracting Japanese businesses. The parties are focusing not only on reconstruction but also on deep economic transformation, with an emphasis on technology and local manufacturing. This was reported by the Ministry of Economy.
Ukraine and Japan are moving to a new level of economic partnership, where the focus is no longer just on reconstruction assistance, but on long-term investments, technology, and joint projects designed to transform the very structure of the Ukrainian economy.
The issue of cooperation was discussed by Oleksiy Sobolev, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, and Yuko Mitsui, Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who arrived in Kyiv on her first official visit, underscoring Tokyo’s special focus on Ukraine. “Japan is our strategic partner in recovery and development. I thank the Government of Japan and JICA for their systematic cooperation and willingness to invest not only in rebuilding ‘walls’ but also in the long-term transformation of the Ukrainian economy,” noted Oleksiy Sobolev.
The key idea behind the negotiations is not simply the supply of equipment, but the localization of production in Ukraine using Japanese technologies, and the first pilot area is to be humanitarian demining, which is already actively developing within the framework of previously reached agreements.
Separately, the parties discussed the creation of blended financing through the National Development Agency, as well as the launch of a joint venture fund to support Ukrainian-Japanese enterprises and innovative projects focused on long-term growth.
At the same time, the idea of an investment hub in Osaka involving UkraineInvest, JETRO, and JICA is being explored; an agreement on this was reached during Expo-2025, and it is intended to serve as an entry point for Japanese businesses into Ukrainian projects and opportunities.
Expanding cooperation through trilateral programs with other countries is also being discussed, particularly in the area of humanitarian demining, which could open new markets for Ukrainian manufacturers of specialized equipment and service solutions.
Particular emphasis was placed on the development of the agricultural sector, support for small farmers, soil restoration, the digitalization of the economy, and the strengthening of state institutions, which together form a more comprehensive approach to Ukraine’s recovery and modernization in partnership with Japan.
Japan will provide Ukraine with over 7,000 units of computer and multimedia equipment, including personal computers, interactive panels, and laptops, for 382 vocational colleges and schools.
Japan has expressed interest in Ukrainian attack drones. Tokyo is considering purchasing them for its own Self-Defense Forces due to their proven effectiveness in combat against Russia.
