Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has called for more investment and business involvement by Japanese companies in Ukraine amid Russia's continued invasion of her country.

Svyrydenko was visiting Japan to attend a conference designed to discuss support for Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. She sat for an interview with NHK on Tuesday.

She expressed gratitude to Japan, which she said is one of her country's biggest supporters.

She said her trip is aimed at enhancing cooperation between Japanese and Ukrainian businesses.

To achieve that, she said she hopes to identify what areas Japanese businesses are interested in and to show what kind of incentives Ukraine can offer them to enter the Ukrainian market even during wartime.

Along with investment, she urged Japanese firms to take part in the development of industrial complexes Ukraine is now promoting.

Svyrydenko cited agriculture and energy as the sectors where Ukraine wants to use Japan's technology and innovation know-how.

Meanwhile, she expressed hope that Japan's restrictions over trips to Ukraine that are currently in place will be relaxed to allow Japanese firms to branch out into Ukraine. She said, "It's very important to see by your own eyes how the Ukrainian economy operates."

Svyrydenko also said Ukraine is facing a labor shortage, with 5 million Ukrainians now living abroad. She expressed hope that creating business opportunities will work as an incentive for them to return.