Mayor hosted delegation from Fukui City
Since 2022, the City of Kranj has been establishing ties with the Japanese city of Fukui. This week, a delegation from Fukui, including the Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Japan, Tetsuji Shindo, and a member of the Japanese Parliament, Hirofumi Takinami, both hailing from Fukui, visited Slovenia. On this occasion, they, along with the Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia and accompanying staff, also made a stop in Kranj, where they were received by Mayor Matjaž Rakovec.
Mayor Matjaž Rakovec, along with Deputy Mayors Janez Černe and Manja Zorko, welcomed the six-member Japanese delegation, including two representatives from Fukui, with which Kranj has been fostering connections for over a year. The meeting involved discussions on the areas of existing collaboration and possibilities for further cooperation. The attendees included the Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Japan, Tetsuji Shindo; member of the the Japanese Parliament Hirofumi Takinami, who is also the Vice President of the Japan-Slovenia Parliamentary Friendship Group; the Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia, Hiromichi Matsushima, and accompanying staff. The meeting concluded with an entry in the ceremonial guestbook. The delegation then took a stroll through the old town center of Kranj and visited the Kovačnica - Kranj Business Incubator, where they were briefed on the institution's activities by its manager, Nives Justin.
The connection between Kranj and Fukui was established in 2021 when the Slovenian national basketball team stayed there for their final preparations before the Tokyo Olympics. During that time, three individuals from Kranj were part of the coaching staff: Dragiša Drobnjak, Dalibor Damjanović, and Marko Milič. At the suggestion of the former ambassador, Ana Polak Petrič, the two cities established contact. In the past school year (2022/2023), students from both cities were linked, and in the future, the relationship will continue to strengthen in the fields of education, including potential collaboration in technical and IT-related areas.
