TOKYO: Japanese and Arab League officials are holding talks here in Tokyo on forming new economic partnerships and strengthening existing agreements, particularly in sectors like energy and healthcare, Arab News reported.
The 5th Japan-Arab Economic Forum began on Tuesday and will run until July 11. Previous forum meetings were held in 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2016.
On Wednesday, participants took part in a “Public-Private Economic Conference,” featuring Japan’s Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Ken Saito. Nobuyuki Nakajima, managing director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) based in Dubai, opened the session.
Saito emphasized the pivotal moment the world is currently facing, highlighting Japan and Arab countries as crucial partners with a shared history of friendly relations. He underscored the importance of leveraging each other’s strengths to tackle global challenges such as climate change, energy, water, and poverty.
“Now is the time for us to take advantage of each other’s strengths while addressing these global challenges.”
“The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has secured a $1 billion budget to develop a flagship project that symbolizes cooperation with Global South countries,” he said.
“Specific projects such as decarbonization, digital and healthcare have already begun to work. The purpose of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum is to achieve peace, stability and prosperity between Japan and Arab countries through cooperation in a wide range of fields,” Arab News quoted Saito as saying.
Key participants included Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki from the Arab League’s economic affairs sector, Dr. Saleh A. Al-Kharabsheh from Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Dr. Khaled Hanafi, secretary-general of the Union of Arab Chambers.
Sessions throughout the day covered topics ranging from mutual investment expansion to climate change, featuring discussions on green technologies, water management, hydrogen, and ammonia.
Notable figures in these sessions included Ibrahim Al-Dakhiri from the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development and Dr. Salem Hamidi from the Arab Atomic Energy Authority.
Later discussions focused on new technologies, with contributions from Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail, president of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, and Dr. Walid El-Hennawy, assistant secretary-general of the Arab Tourism Organization.
The day concluded with closing remarks delivered by JETRO’s Chairman Norihiko Ishiguro.
