Aluminium sector is one of the priority areas for cooperation between Russia and Japan. This was an announcement made during the first Russia – Japan aluminium forum that was conducted in online format. The organizers of the forum from the Russian side were the Aluminium Association and the Russian Trade Mission in Japan, the Japanese organizers were the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the Japan Aluminium Association and the Association for Trade with Russia & CIS ROTOBO.
The online forum was attended by more than one hundred participants, including the representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the Russian trade mission in Japan, the leading Japanese and Russian experts in the aluminium sector and related industry, as well as the members of the architecture and construction community of the two countries.
The programme of the event had two parts: The first session was conducted as part of the International forum 'Aluminium in architecture and construction' (AlumForum) and was dedicated to the exchange of best practices in the use of aluminium in construction. The second session was dedicated to areas for potential cooperation, including the attraction of Japanese investments in production of aluminium products in Krasnoyarsk Technology Valley.
The experts that spoke during the forum noted that the cooperation between Russia and Japan is not limited to the supply of high-quality low carbon aluminium, but is branching out to various areas tapping the potential for implementing joint projects.
In his opening address the deputy director of the Europe and Russia Office in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr Atsushi Wakui said that in accordance with the Plan for bilateral economic cooperation more than 200 initiatives are currently being implemented, including civil construction projects. 'Industrial projects are among the most important items on the agenda of the two countries. Japan is willing to cooperate at many levels, including the cooperation on the level of associations and ministries. The aluminium industry is a priority area for development, both for Japan and Russia,' said Mr Wakui.
Speaking at the forum, the head of the trade mission in Japan Pyotr Pavlenko said that the coronavirus pandemic has made its impact on the business and economic activity and has destroyed global supply chains: based on the results of three quarters of 2020, the value exports of the Russian aluminium to Japan have reduced by 22% year-on-year, amounting to 333 mln US dollars.
At the same time, the head of the trade mission sees a great potential for expanding the Russian export to Japan which could be based on creating joint projects to produce high tech deep conversion aluminium products. He invited the Japanese partners to participate in cooperation by joining a project in Krasnoyarsk technology valley on mutually beneficial terms.
'The Russian trade mission in Japan is closely following the intensification of contacts between the aluminium associations of the two countries, which will play a leading role in expanding the bilateral economic connections. The dialogue between the architecture communities of the two countries will support the development of the industry, and the exchange of best practices will facilitate the implementation of the infrastructure projects and improvement of regulatory framework,' said Pyotr Pavlenko.
In his turn, the executive director of ROTOBO Kadzuhiko Akashi emphasized that Krasnoyarsk produces environmentally clean aluminium using hydropower. According to Mr Akashi, the ongoing projectы in Krasnoyarsk Technology Valley pose interest for the Japanese side. Aluminium sector is one of the priorities in the cooperation of Russia and Japan. In 2019, Russia's share in the aluminium imports to Japan amounted to 15%.
During the first session of the event the Russian and the Japanese experts exchanged best practices regarding the use of aluminium in new construction projects, restoring historical buildings and bridge building.
The session was opened by the co-chair of the Aluminium Association Irina Kazovskaya. According to her, construction industry has a special significance among all the areas of cooperation between Russia and Japan. 'This is the industry where science and technology coexist in harmony with art, and where the technical innovations create room for creativity. The Japanese architecture school is one of the leading in the world, it has long adopted the use of aluminium solutions. The Japanese architects actively participate in shaping the modern image of the Russian cities. Communication between architects, designers, producers of aluminium construction and finishing materials from Russia and Japan will facilitate the development of creative connections, expansion of aluminium application in construction industry and improve people's lives,' said Irina Kazovskaya.
The session continued with a presentation by the head of transport infrastructure projects of the Aluminium Association Evgeniy Vasilyev. He spoke about eight aluminium overpasses built in Russia since 2017 as well as about the immediate prospects of constructing the country's first motorway bridge.
Application of transparent aluminium structures in the restoration project at Moscow Polytechnic Museum was covered in the presentations made by the deputy head of construction at AO Polytechstroy David Gnitetskiy and the commercial director of OOO Supporting Systems Alexander Averin. This project which is unique to Russia is being implemented based on the design created by a Japanese architect Junya Ishigami.
Pavel Sipkin, head of projects at architecture bureau Kengo Kuma & Associates founded by the renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, brought it to the audience attention that nowadays aluminium is becoming the most sought-after material for exterior and interior projects. For instance, in one of their projects, architects tried combining aluminium with the Japanese traditional craft of origami. Alongside its aesthetic function, aluminium also plays a very important practical role providing seismic protection for buildings.
The executive director of Japan Aluminium Association Tatsuya Kawabata shared some of Japan's best practices in using aluminium in bridge building and also talked about the potential changes in the national construction regulations in connection with increasing use of new materials, including aluminium, in construction.
During the session 'New Aluminium Materials and Technologies', the head of science at ILM&T Dmitriy Ryabov talked in detail about the institute's developments in the field of new aluminium alloys and their applications in high tech fields of industry.
The results of the first Russia - Japan aluminium forum will be highlighted during the next meeting of the Russia - Japan intergovernmental commission for trade and economy.