Ljubljana, 29 June 2026 – The Director of GIZ-GOIS, g.i.z., Mr. Boštjan Skalar, at the invitation of the Embassy of Japan in Slovenia, attended a high-level Japanese-Slovenian social meeting, hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to Slovenia, H.E. Ms. Akiko Yoshida, at her residence in Ljubljana.

Keynote guest: a leading name in the Japanese financial world

The main guest of the meeting was Mr. Makoto Takashima, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japanese financial group SMBC Group, which is one of the largest financial groups in the world. The group is present in 40 countries on all continents and employs more than 120,000 people, making it one of the key pillars of the global financial system.

In addition to leading SMBC Group, Mr. Takashima also holds a number of important international positions:

✅ Chairman of the Committee for Europe at the largest Japanese business association Keidanren, which connects leading Japanese companies and shapes the country’s economic policy,
✅ Chairman of the Board of the international foundation EU Japan Fest, which has financially supported several projects within the framework of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica – Gorizia and thus significantly contributed to the cultural connection between Japan and Slovenia.

An informal exchange that opens doors

The event was intended for an informative gathering and informal exchange of opinions between the Japanese delegation and selected representatives of the Slovenian economy, especially from globally promising industries. The Slovenian business environment was also presented to the Japanese delegation by the SPIRIT Slovenia agency, which promotes the Slovenian economy abroad.

Informal high-level meetings often represent the first step towards long-term business partnerships – they enable direct contact with decision-makers, exchange of experiences, and identification of common interests that are not always captured by formal frameworks.

Strengthening economic ties between Slovenia and Japan

Japan is one of the most important Asian economies and the most technologically advanced countries in the world, so such meetings represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and open the door to new business opportunities, investments and international cooperation – including in areas of strategic importance for Slovenian industry.

GIZ-GOIS, g.i.z. bo tudi v prihodnje aktivno gradil mostove med slovenskim gospodarstvom in perspektivnimi mednarodnimi partnerji ter svoje člane povezoval s priložnostmi na globalnih trgih.

Photo source: Embassy of Japan