The mayor of a major Japanese city jetted into Aberdeen yesterday to sign major agreements with the city council and Robert Gordon University.
Kobe mayor Kizo Hisamoto spoke exclusively to the Press and Journal, and said he could see “high potential” for further collaboration between the two cities.
Mr Hisamoto, wearing a special Kobe tartan tie, met Lord Provost Barney Crockett first thing to sign the statement of intent which sets out areas where the two can work together.
Covered in the agreement are commitments to investigate further industry collaboration in port management, renewable energy and developing hydrogen technology.
Mr Hisamoto, speaking through an interpreter, said: “This is my first time visiting Aberdeen and the city is very beautiful, the weather is perfect and the people are very kind.
“The major reason we are here is not only to build a relationship with the city, but also between the universities and industries.”
“The potential for the two cities working together is very, very high.”
The previous council administration built initial links with the far east city – which, with a population of 1.5million, is much bigger than the Granite City.
Mr Crockett said: “Extending our reach overseas has to be a key objective for us as an administration.”
Separately, Robert Gordon University (RGU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kobe University’s School of Marine Sciences.
It was signed by RGU’s Principal Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and Professor Makoto Uchida, Dean of School of Marine Sciences at Kobe University, at RGU.
The institution also signed a Statement of Intent with Kobe City Government.
Professor von Prondzynski said: “Kobe City is aiming to become the Subsea hub for Japan and to act as a base for companies working across the Asia Pacific region and I am very much looking forward to learning more.”