The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, has opened an office in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to help Japanese businesses take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

About 280 people, including government and company officials of Japan and Ukraine, attended the opening ceremony of the office on Thursday.

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sent a video message to the participants, saying that the opening of the office shows Japan's strong determination to help rebuild Ukraine.

He said he wants to promote business cooperation as well as to expand investment and trade between the two countries.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal addressed the gathering, using a Japanese phrase that means that a true friend is known in times of adversity.

He referred to Japan as a reliable partner and said it is the private sector that will be the driving force of Ukraine's recovery, expressing his expectations for Japanese firms.

JETRO says four members of the staff will examine investment opportunities in the country and provide relevant information.

The organization says it will also support Japanese and Ukrainian companies seeking cooperation between themselves.

JETRO chairman Ishiguro Norihiko, who took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said information about the business environment is insufficient because of the difficulty in travel between the two countries.

He said that he first wants to provide accurate information about the local situation.

President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gennadiy Chyzhykov, said that not every country can open such an operation amid such challenging circumstances as a war.

Companies from various countries have started entering Ukraine to support the country's recovery, but securing a safe business environment has become a challenge.