Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek pointed out that record figures had been achieved in 2015, with merchandise trade between the two countries reaching EUR 115m, services EUR 27m and direct foreign investments doubling to EUR 71m.

Robots maker Yaskawa is the most important Japanese company with capital in Slovenia and Počivalšek said the government did all it could to "encourage its positive decision" to expand production at its location in Ribnica.

Japanese investors have also invested in companies such as household appliance maker Gorenje, the Slovenian Toyota dealer Toyota Adria, welding specialist Daihen, and power tools maker Makita.

The 26-member delegation of Keidanren, one of the three biggest Japanese business associations with more than 1,600 members, includes representatives of 11 companies.

Head of the Slovenia-Japan business council and Yaskawa Ristro boss Hubert Kosler recommended Slovenia for the production of high-tech products, while Akira Shimizu of Hitachi presented Slovenian-Japanese work on one of the biggest smart network projects in Europe.

Počivalšek stressed there was still a lot of room for improvement, including in tourism, "where Slovenia's central location in Europe means an extraordinary starting point for all tourists wishing to visit four or five European countries in a few days".

Masaru Onishi agreed, saying that "up to 80,000 passengers could come here each year, while we are presently at 4,000".

The Japanese delegation was also received in the morning by Prime Minister Miro Cerar, who was received by counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo earlier this month in a meeting that led to a mutual commitment to forge closer ties. Cerar reiterated this commitment today.