Olmert on Japan visit

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Arrived in Tokyo on Monday, February 25, 2008 for a series of meetings with senior Japanese officials, focusing on bilateral economic ties and security issues. 
This is the first official visit by an Israeli premier to Japan in ten years. During his three-day visit, Olmert is expected to meet with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, as well as with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 

The visit is aimed at expanding the economic ties and commerce between the two countries, according to a report of local daily Yedioth Ahronoth. 

Olmert and his hosts are also expected to discuss security issues, including the Qassam rockets, the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip and the Iranian nuclear threat. 
The visit has been planned for several months and was cancelled a number of times due to the security-diplomatic situation, the report said. 

The prime minister's convoy will be under particularly tight security due to the warnings on Hezbollah's plan to target Israeli officials following the assassination of the organization's commander Imad Mugniyah, which has been blamed on Israel, it said. 

The Prime Minister's delegation includes 24 senior Israeli businessmen, who intend to assist in promoting mutual trade agreements and expend economic relations between the two countries. 
These 24 senior Israeli businessmen were selected due to their commercial ties with Japanese companies in areas that of interest for them.

The Israeli delegation consists of representatives from the biotech, pharmaceutical, diamonds and environmental industries. Among those representatives are: Shai Agasi, leader of the electric car project, Elchanan Harel the founder and chairmen of Harel-Hertz investment house, and more.