The Investment and Projects Office of the Lviv City Council (Invest in Lviv), with the support of JETRO Düsseldorf, conducted a working visit to Düsseldorf—one of the largest hubs of Japanese business in Europe. The purpose of the visit was to study best practices in supporting Japanese companies and fostering international partnerships.

A key part of the visit included meetings with the Japan Desk Düsseldorf team, which operates under the city council, as well as with NRW.Global Business—the investment promotion agency of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The discussions focused on investor support practices and the creation of a business-friendly environment.

As part of the program, a business seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) was also held, where investment opportunities in Lviv and priority areas for cooperation were presented to Japanese companies.

Particular attention was given to meetings with IHK Düsseldorf, JIHK, and DJW. The parties discussed the role of chambers of commerce and business associations in supporting foreign companies.

In partnership with JETRO Düsseldorf, the team also explored the Japanese business ecosystem in the region, held strategic consultations on attracting Japanese investment to Ukraine, and reviewed new services, including the Expat Service Desk.

“Experience gained in Düsseldorf in working with Japanese businesses and investor support institutions will be directly applied to the development of Japan Desk Lviv. This includes introducing more structured company support services, strengthening coordination with municipal institutions and business associations, and expanding communication tools with investors. This will make Japan Desk Lviv more effective and better tailored to the practical needs of Japanese companies already operating in Lviv or considering entering the market,” said Nazar Bilyk, Project Coordinator of Japan Desk Lviv at the Investment and Projects Management Office of the Lviv City Council.