On October 16, 2026, a meeting with representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) titled "Deepening Ukrainian-Japanese Cooperation" took place. The meeting was held on the premises of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union in the context of the activities of the Inter-Faction Parliamentary Association "Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine" and the National Platform "Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine".
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament of Ukraine:
Vadym Halaichuk — First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the European Union, Co-Chair of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee;
Halyna Mykhailiuk — Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement, Co-Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Deputy Group on Interparliamentary Relations with Japan, Doctor of Law, Professor;
Fedir Venislavskyi — Chairman of the Subcommittee on State Security, Defense and Defense Innovation of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence.
The meeting was also attended by Andrii Smorodin — President of the "Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine" National Platform, Honorary Professor of NTU "KhPI".
The Japanese side was represented by:
Tetsuo Shibata — Current Head of the JETRO Kyiv Office;
Ryo Koba — Incoming Head of the JETRO Kyiv Office.
The participants of the meeting discussed the prospects of Ukrainian-Japanese economic cooperation, in particular the interest of Japanese business in developing cooperation with Ukraine and deepening economic interaction within the context of the Three Seas Initiative, as well as prospects for developing joint economic projects.
A separate discussion focused on the Carpathian Integration Initiative launched by Ukraine, the prospects for its further development, and possible formats for the participation of Japanese partners.
The participants also discussed potential formats for future interaction involving Members of Parliament of Ukraine, scientific institutions, and business representatives to exchange proposals and work through the prospects of potential joint projects in Ukraine, Japan, and Central and Eastern European countries.
Background: JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is a Japanese government-related organization that promotes international trade and economic cooperation. Japan has held strategic partner status in the Three Seas Initiative since 2024.