Japan and Iceland have made an agreement to increase the work both countries have been doing in developing green energy and technology, with applications in both countries and the developing world.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign minister Össur Skarphéðinsson (right) met with Japanese ministers of foreign affairs, industry and business over the weekend. Japanese minister of economy, industry and business Akihiro Ohata emphasized that he wants to see the two countries work together to develop geothermal energy in Japan, Iceland and in developing countries such as those in east Africa, Latin America as well as in Indonesia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara (left) added to this point that he believed the combined forces of Iceland’s knowledge of geothermal energy and Japan’s expertise at engineering turbines would make it possible to help developing countries rise out of poverty while at the same time reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
Private companies took part in the meeting as well, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries CEO Hideaki Omiya saying that he would like to increase business with Iceland. The company has sold engines and turbines to numerous private industries in Iceland already, but this time around, Omiya and his second-in-command, Ichiko Fukue, brought up the idea of selling electric cars to Iceland, and to help in the development of an electric train between Keflavík and Reykajvík.
(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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