The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management Signed the Memorandum of Cooperation(MOC) (February 26, 2024)

On February 26, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management signed a "Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of sustainable forest management and the use of wood and wood products".

1. Overview

Austria, like Japan, has a robust forestry business in high terrain and both countries have continued interaction in the field of forestry. The signing of this MOC is expected to further foster cooperation between the two nations and contribute to Japan's forest and forestry industry.

2. Date and Venue

Date: February 26, 2024
Venue: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan
Signed by: Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan, Mr. Sakamoto
                 Minister of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and
                 Water Management, Mr. Totschnig

3. Areas of Cooperation

Both sides reaffirmed the critical importance of sustainable forest management as well as use of wood and wood products, and express their willingness to conduct beneficial exchanges on the following:

a)  Exchange of information and learnings of policies of the sides related to sustainable forest management and
     use of wood and wood products.
b)  Exchange of knowledge and learnings on innovations and techniques related to wood construction and wood
     utilization (including material and energy use of forest resources)
c)  Exchange of knowledge and learnings on prevention and management of mountain hazards
d)  Exchange of knowledge and learnings on training, education and research
e)  Facilitation of technical exchanges for scientific, training and educational purposes
f)  Other forms of cooperation mutually decided by the sides related to the promotion of sustainable forest
     management and use of wood and wood products.

4. Annex.

Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of the sustainable forest management and the use of wood and wood products(PDF : 210KB)