Germany and Japan are to expand cooperation in the agriculture and food sectors, the two economic powers decided on the final day of a visit by the German agriculture minister in Tokyo on Tuesday.
"Japan is a promising market for German exports," Alois Rainer said.
Under the plans, Germany is to increase exports of red wine to Japan, while Japan will export more sake and rice to Germany, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the German minister and his Japanese counterpart Norikazu Suzuki.
“Our food culture is very popular,” Rainer noted while in Japan, adding that the island nation still offers growth potential, particularly for German meat products.
Experts from the Agriculture Ministry are reportedly in close consultation with the Japanese authorities to meet the requirements for the export of heat-treated pork amid concerns over African swine fever.
With a self-sufficiency rate of just 38%, Japan was an interesting market, said Rainer. "Consumers in Japan, too, are having to cope with rising food prices."
After concluding the visit to Tokyo, Rainer, who is being accompanied by a business delegation, departed for further bilateral talks in China.
