Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is leaving Friday on a working visit to Japan, which will continue until January 26, the government press office announced.

Borissov is scheduled to confer with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the Chairman of Nippon Keidanren Hiromasa Yonekura and the management of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Japan has long-term investment interests in Bulgaria, His Excellency Makoto Ito, the new Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria, stated earlier this week.

On Monday, Makoto Ito met with the Bulgarian media for the first time and outlined the Japanese Embassy's main goals in its cultural and economic program for 2011.

"When it comes to Japanese investments, there are usually long-term and vast commitments, which include the creation of new jobs and the construction of new utilities. Therefore, the presence of a reliable business climate and an effective administrations is necessary," the Japanese Ambassador pointed out.

Some of the crucial aspects of the Bulgarian – Japanese relations in 2011 will be the economy and the investments in Bulgaria's industry and private sector. According to the Japanese Ambassador, there are a lot of previously unrealized opportunities for the development of the two countries' economic relations.

October and November will be declared special months of the Japanese culture in Bulgaria.