Prime Minister Rõivas: Estonian business environment and entrepreneurs are valued highly in Japan

Tokyo, 6 April 2016 – This morning, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas alongside with Estonian entrepreneurs, met with Hiroshi Mikitani, Executive Director of the investment company Rakuten.


The goal of the meeting was to initiate contact between Estonian entrepreneurs and one of the most important Japanese companies and new economic leader in the country.


“The fact that Rakuten is interested in Estonian start-ups is great recognition for Estonia and is proof of the high level of our enterprises,” said Prime Minister Rõivas.


“We introduced Estonian start-ups to Hiroshi Mikitani in 2014 as well, and I’m happy to say that Rakuten has by now made considerable investments into two of those companies – Lingvist and Fits.me,” said Rõivas and added that one shining example of start-up success stories is definitely the Lingvist office what will be opened in the Rakuten headquarters today. 


The e-School platform, which is used by 80% of Estonian schools and which offers means for collecting state-wide statistics in addition to providing a platform for communication between the school and the home, garnered the most attention out of all the enterprises in the business delegation that was accompanying the Prime Minister. Japan does not currently have a similar e-solution, but they are interested in a platform like this.


The Head of Rakuten was also interested in the service portfolios of Transferwise, Teleport and Realeyes. Companies are prepared to expand to the Japanese market and various legal aspects that could make it easier for companies to enter the Japanese market were discussed during the meeting.


Mikitani expressed interest in increasing Rakuten’s footprint in Estonia by acknowledging Estonian business climate, facilitation of sharing economy and growth environment for start-ups.


The Head of Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani is also the leader of the economic growth work group of the Japanese Prime Minister and the spokesperson for new economy. The aim of the Chamber of Economy created by Mikitani is to develop the e-society, update the education system and promote foreign language skills in Japan. Rakuten’s portfolio also holds an internet mall the sales revenue of which is the biggest in Japan and holds the 8th place in the entire world.


Photos from the meeting: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w42xy1ru5o7hghe/AABiJN4GdgUmxzAijFQF-R-Qa?dl=0