Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, visiting Japan, is trying to convince his Japanese hosts to open a free trade agreement with Israel. Japan has similar pacts with only a handful of countries. Israel currently imports $2 billion worth of goods every year from Japan and exports $800 million in merchandise. A bi-lateral agreement would loosen restrictions on Israeli exports, particularly in the agricultural sector. Japanese investors have expressed interest in Israeli aerospace and water industries.
More than 20 businessmen are accompanying the Prime Minister on the four-day visit. He met with chief executives of the Toyota company and with the Emperor of Japan.