The “Nidek” group officially opened the operations of its second investment in Bulgaria

High-ranking representatives of the “Nidec” group officially opened today the activities of the corporation’s second investment in Bulgaria – “Nidec Instruments”. The event was held on the territory of “Sofia Airport Center” (SAC), in the presence of Georgi Angelov, Acting Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, Hisashi Michigami, Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria, Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia Municipality, the Mayor of the District Iskar Yasen Rusev, the rector of Technical University – Sofia Ivan Kralov.

“After the opening of the Nidec Elesis research and development center in Bulgaria in 2022, I am pleased that Nidec Genmark Automation will also have an investment in Sofia,” said Anihiro Suzuki, director of Nidec Genmark. “Nidek” has over 300 companies in more than 40 countries around the world and R&D is the group’s first investment in Bulgaria. Our strategy is to develop in four main areas – electrification, robotics, energy-saving devices and appliances and drones,” he said.

Specifically for “Nidek Instruments”, whose activity in Bulgaria was officially presented today, Anihiro Suzuki pointed out that there are many assets in the field of robotics and semiconductors.

“We came to Bulgaria to establish a research and development center in order to have a warm relationship with Bulgarian engineers who have rich experience,” said Toshihide Arii, chairman of Nidec Instruments, when presenting the group’s activities. “The semiconductor market is volatile this year, but within five years we will double, and possibly triple, our business.”

He recalled that the corporation markets its products on the world market and in particular in Europe, the USA, China and Japan.

Georgi Angelov, Acting Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, assured the representatives of the Japanese investor that MIR will continue to support “Nidek”, as it is possible to open new fields of cooperation. The Deputy Minister recalled that the investment of “Nidek Elesis” was already certified under the Law on the Promotion of Investments, and about two months ago it was awarded at the awards of the Bulgarian Investment Agency for innovative business.

“I hope that the success of the Nidec group will be an engine for revitalizing and renewing our bilateral relations,” said Hisashi Michigami, Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria. Ambassador Michigami used the occasion to re-emphasize his commitment and obligation as ambassador to revive the important, in his words, bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Japan.

The diplomat believes that it is possible to restore the “golden age” in mutual contacts that the two countries enjoyed in the 1990s.

“Japan is a distant country from Bulgaria, but we have a number of similarities between us – both countries respect traditions and have extremely strong experts in the field of technology. There are many young Bulgarians who work hard and contribute to the success of Japan. We have a lot to learn from each other”, said Ambassador Michigami, recalling that two years ago “Nidek Elesis” opened an office in Bulgaria, gathering a team of 100 Bulgarian engineers, and now “Nidek Instruments” intend to develop their investment officially opened today in Sofia.

“They develop and offer unique products on the world market, and I believe that they will be able to benefit from the exceptional skills of Bulgarian experts. This is a great contribution to Bulgaria from the Japanese side and I believe that it will get bigger and bigger,” he pointed out the ambassador.