A delegation from the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), led by CEO, Israfil Mammadov, conducted a working visit to Japan from September 9 to 12. The primary objectives of the visit were to deepen cooperation with SOFAZ’s Japanese partner institutions, analyze the local financial market environment, and explore potential investment opportunities.

The delegation commenced its program with a meeting with Mr. Koji Nakamura, Executive Director for Monetary Policy and Financial Markets at the Bank of Japan. The meeting featured an exchange of views on the country’s monetary policy and economic outlook, with discussions also touching on global economic trends and regional development dynamics.

Subsequently, the delegation held discussions with Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The sides exchanged views on JBIC’s activities in Azerbaijan, the projects implemented so far, and potential avenues for future collaboration. Both parties emphasized the importance of continuing joint investment initiatives.

Another key engagement in Tokyo was a visit to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. During the discussions, particular attention was paid to the institutional reforms implemented in recent years, as well as the efforts to strengthen transparency and corporate governance within the Japanese capital markets.

The delegation also held a meeting with the senior management of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, a long-standing institutional partner of SOFAZ. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the current state of cooperation and to explore prospects for expanding collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

Further meetings were held with executives from Mizuho Financial Group, PGIM, and PAG Real Assets. These discussions centered on expanding cooperation across various investment domains and evaluating new partnership prospects.

During the working visit, the delegation also visited the site of the Azerbaijan Pavilion at the EXPO 2025 in Osaka. The delegation was briefed on the pavilion’s concept and engaged in a presentation on SOFAZ’s activities and strategic outlook. The presentation highlighted the Fund’s financial and investment experience, its role in maintaining macroeconomic stability, and its commitment to directing national wealth toward long-term sustainable development.