Japan is showing great interest in participating in the restoration of Azerbaijan’s newly liberated Karabakh region, Vice-President of the country’s Confederation of Entrepreneurs Vugar Zeynalov told Trend News Agency.

According to the official, about 40 investors and entrepreneurs from Japan visited Azerbaijan in 2021.

"They are mainly interested in investing in agriculture. The visits of Japanese investors to Azerbaijan help them become acquainted with existing projects and specific regions. At the same time, Azerbaijani companies get the opportunity to build business relations during such visits to our country," Zeynalov said.

Furthermore, Japanese entrepreneurs are showing interest in establishing businesses in Azerbaijan for the production and export of tobacco, hazelnuts, and jams.

"Our confederation provides broad information to Japanese entrepreneurs about the opportunities in the liberated territories of the country, the investment climate and legislation in this area," Zeynalov said.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces, and violated humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the six-week conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

It ended after the two countries signed a Russia-brokered agreement to end the fighting, and work toward a comprehensive resolution./aa