𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗣, Mihai Precup: During my time in Tokyo, I participated in a crucial meeting for Romania with Mr. Sekine Hiroki, Managing Executive Officer and Global Head of the Infrastructure and Environment Finance Group, as well as directors from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (#JBIC). We discussed important topics related to future collaboration between the two countries, focusing on areas such as capital investments, bond issuances, the environment, and renewable energy.
JBIC expressed interest in co-financing the „Fund of Funds” (Fof), a financing tool for startups worth 400 million euros managed by the Romanian Government and the European Investment Fund (EIF). This funding is aimed at various types of funds, including infrastructure funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, and crowdfunding platforms. They plan to use their experience from administering a similar fund in Poland to co-finance projects in Romania, with the Romanian side responsible for conducting a preliminary analysis.
We also discussed the possibility of collaborating on the operationalization of the Romanian Investment and Development Bank (BID). Representatives from JBIC expressed interest in offering technical assistance to BID in identifying and developing common financial instruments, which would help BID attract funds for strategic national projects.
JBIC officials expressed interest in purchasing Samurai bonds denominated in Japanese yen issued by the Ministry of Finance. This move, following the modification of legislation in 2023, aims to diversify Romania’s financing sources and attract Japanese investors, bringing multiple financial and strategic advantages to the country.
Additionally, JBIC is interested in supporting decarbonization projects in Romania’s energy sector, aligning with the objectives of the National Modernization Fund. Their investments will help Romania achieve its targets in transitioning to sustainable energy.
In conclusion, it is expected that Japanese expertise and resources will greatly contribute to Romania’s long-term modernization and development efforts.
