Vucic: Visit to Japan was very good, fruitful, I expect major results

TOKYO - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday in Tokyo he had had important meetings with past and potential new Japanese investors in Serbia earlier in the day and noted that his visit to Japan had been good and fruitful and that he expected to see major results in the future.

"We will have to resolve the issue of US tariffs so that Toyo Tire can make new large-scale investments. I spoke with (Toyo Tire Corporation CEO) Mr (Takashi) Shimizu last night and this morning at a separate meeting. We also spoke with other representatives of Japanese companies and with their umbrella institution, the Business Federation of Japan, and presented the way things are in Serbia and the economic situation as it is, and pointed out what they can expect if they invest in Serbia," Vucic said.

He said several areas were crucial, above all, the energy sector, and that he had addressed all of Serbia's problems and the problems energy systems in many European countries could face in the future.

"And what we can do, where we need Japanese technology, Japanese know-how. The good thing is that we have no problems with funding, with public finances and with financing the public debt. We have no problems whatsoever and I believe the fiscal and monetary stability we have was met with good reactions here in Japan," Vucic said.

He added that AI and the use of electric power for electric vehicles had been discussed as well.

Asked by reporters when new Japanese investments in Serbia could be expected to take place, he responded: "Very soon, if we resolve the issue of US tariffs."

He noted that he was very pleased with the discussions a Serbian delegation had had in Tokyo, as well as with his meetings with the Japanese emperor and the country's PM.

"I think we did a good job here in Japan, I am proud of our country and grateful to the people who prepared this, and to our embassy here for doing a good job. And I am grateful to the people who made a good (EXPO 2025) pavilion in Osaka, because it is not often that we have an opportunity to present ourselves in Japan," Vucic said.