THE 2^nd TÜRKİYE-JAPAN INVESTMENT FORUM 11 NOVEMBER 2025 - TOKYO, UNU

Mr. Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of the Investment and Finance Office of Türkiye,

H.E. Ambassador Ümit Yalçın,Senior Advisor on Foreign Investments at the Western Anatolia Free Zone

Ms. Takako Tsujisaka, Deputy Director-General for International Trade Policy of the Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan,

Ms. Fumio Adachi, Head of UNIDO ITPO,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to address you today as this year marks the 101st anniversary of our diplomatic relations,the 135th anniversary of the Ertuğrul Frigate incident and the 40^th anniversary of evacuation from Tahran.

Friendship between Türkiye andJapan has stood the test of time, much like a bridge built on trust andmutual respect. As an old saying goes, “A friendship tested by time growsdeeper with every challenge.”

Even though our two countries lie at the opposite ends of Asia, we enjoycordial relations based on that bond of friendship coupled with the mutualsolidarity displayed in the wake of big earthquakes in the last three decades.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since the elevation of our relations to Strategic Partnership in 2013, Türkiye and Japan have deepened
their cooperation in fields of common interest.

Yet, our bilateral trade volume, hovering around five to six billion US dollars annually, does not reflect the true potential of our dynamic economies.Besides, Japan’s share in the FDI Türkiye attracted inthe past two decades, amounts to a modest 1.5 %.

We firmly believe that there is room for improvement to better use trade and investment opportunities Türkiye offers.

Türkiye,with its strategic location and customs union with the EU, offers uniqueadvantages as a regional trade and investment hub, a bridge between East andWest.

To that end, conclusion of the Economic PartnershipAgreement (EPA) would pave the way for making full use of the potential of ourrespective countries.

The signing of the EPA would mark a milestone,unlocking new opportunities between our countries at a time when global tradeorder is under enormous stress.

We should think beyond borders and explore new modelsof cooperation especially in Africa, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq as well as in otherparts of the Middle East and Asia.

Distinguished Participants,

We consider Japanese companies not as mere foreign investors, but alsoas reliable partners.

Our partnership is not just about the past, it is about building thefuture together.

We see potential for joint action in digital transformation, renewable energy, green hydrogen, space,maritime, smart cities, and healthcare.

I am particularly happy that one panelwill focus on television dramas, gaming, and digital content; fields whereTurkish and Japanese creativity can inspire and complement each other.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The friendship between Türkiye and Japan is like a well-rooted tree. Theseeds, planted more than a century ago, have grown into a strong partnershipthat now bears fruitful opportunities in trade, investment, and culturalexchange.

As we look ahead, let us continue to nurture this friendship withrenewed energy, open heart, and shared determination.

Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and write the nextchapter of our partnership with the same spirit of solidarity that began on theshores of Kushimoto 135 years ago.

In conclusion, I avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate Japanon the successful organization of Expo Osaka.

The event has captured global attention and inspired internationalcooperation at a time when a new world order is in the making.

Thank you for your kind attention.