Businessmen and politicians from Russia and Japan will discuss new opportunities for economic cooperation at the third Russian-Japanese investment forum that's opening on Thursday, Itar-Tass reported. The annual Russian-Japanese investment forum has been held since 2006. This year the forum will focus on investment mechanisms and geographical enlargement of Russian-Japanese investment cooperation by involving Russian regions in this process. Joint projects to develop transport infrastructure and transition to a new stage in energy cooperation will be the subjects of plenary and roundtable meetings. The expansion of Japanese business in St. Petersburg will be a separate subject for discussion. About 40 enterprises with the Japanese capital are already working in the city. The Toyota automobile plant has been operating in St. Petersburg since 2007, and two other giants, Nissan and Suzuki, are also building their plants. The foreign trade turnover between St. Petersburg and Japan stood at $ 352.4 million in the first six months of 2008. St. Petersburg and Tokyo established direct air traffic connection in April 2008. A representative Japanese delegation that will include more than 250 businessmen and politicians is expected to attend the third investment forum. Toshihiro Nikai, the minister of economy, trade and industry, is expected to lead the Japanese delegation. Almost 350 Russian delegates will take part in the forum. The Russian-Japanese investment forum in St. Petersburg will give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation.
