Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has become the first Japanese leader to visit Cuba.
Abe met Cuban President Raul Castro and discussed the economic and trade relationship between the two countries.
"Japanese companies are becoming more interested in Cuba," Abe told Cuban communist party newspaper Granma.
"I believe they can make a contribution to Cuba which is currently updating its socio-economic model."
Cuba is slowly opening up to foreign investment and trade, however the Caribbean island nation's economy remains tightly regulated by the communist government.
Numerous government and industry delegations have travelled to Cuba to investigate the situation in the country and to look for potential investment opportunities.
In the last 10 years, Raul Castro's economic reforms have sought to focus state intervention on strategic areas such as tourism, industry and scientific research, while allowing private businesses in a historic shift.
Cuba is currently looking for new economic partners as its main ally Venezuela is currently fighting massive internal and economic problems.
In 2014, the US and Cuba announced the reinstatement of diplomatic relations, which had been on ice for 50 years.
