Žerjav stressed that "despite the impression that direct investment or investment in high technology is hard to make in Slovenia, Yaskawa's story is the proof that it can be done".

According to him, Yaskawa's decision to move its European centre from Münich to Ribnica was the result of good cooperation between Slovenian Technology Agency TIA and Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

NEDO president Hideo Hato moreover stressed that Japanese find it hard to enter the Slovenian market because of the rigid labour market, bureaucratic obstacles, non-stimulative taxes and deficient logistics and infrastructure.

He added that talks about an institutional framework for cooperation between TIA and NEDO, which are planning joint workshops and seminars, were already under way. "Everything to increase cooperation between the countries," Hato said.

"We distributed the tasks to create a story like Yaskawa's in the future," added Žerjav.

Japanese Ambassador Toshimitsu Ishigure moreover said that bilateral trade had been growing over the past decade, but remains modest. The same holds true for Japanese investment, as the country invested EUR 30.2m in 2010, which is only 0.3% of all foreign direct investment in Slovenia.

According to him, Slovenian market was relatively small and could serve as Japan's gateway to the Balkans.

Today's forum was organised by Yaskawa Slovenia and Yaskawa Ristro in cooperation with Slovenian-Japanese Friendship Group, the Japanese Embassy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and Slovenian economy and foreign ministries.