Tokyo: A delegation from the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), led by CEO Israfil Mammadov, recently visited Japan to discuss financial cooperation and explore investment opportunities. The visit, which took place from September 9 to 12, aimed to strengthen ties with Japanese financial institutions and assess the local market.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the delegation’s program began with a meeting with Koji Nakamura, Executive Director for Monetary Policy and Financial Markets at the Bank of Japan. The discussions focused on Japan’s monetary policy, economic outlook, and global economic trends. The meeting also touched upon regional development dynamics.
The delegation’s next engagement was with Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Both parties reviewed JBIC’s activities in Azerbaijan and discussed potential future collaborations. They emphasized the importance of continuing joint investment initiatives.
In Tokyo, the delegation visited the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Discussions there highlighted recent institutional reforms and efforts to enhance transparency and corporate governance in Japan’s capital markets. The visit aimed to understand the evolving landscape of Japan’s financial markets.
Further meetings took place with the senior management of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, a key institutional partner. This meeting provided an opportunity to evaluate current cooperation and explore possibilities for expanding collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
The delegation also held discussions with executives from Mizuho Financial Group, PGIM, and PAG Real Assets. These talks focused on broadening cooperation across various investment domains and evaluating new partnership opportunities.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Azerbaijan Pavilion site at EXPO 2025 in Osaka. They were briefed on the pavilion’s concept and presented SOFAZ’s strategic outlook, highlighting its financial and investment expertise, macroeconomic stability role, and commitment to sustainable development.