Diana Farah

DUBAI: UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani Bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi on Monday officially inaugurated the second edition of the Japan-Kyoto Trade Exhibition in Dubai.

Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event featured over 120 Japanese companies and brands, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a strategic hub for Japanese trade and investment in the region.

Minister Al Zeyoudi confirmed during his opening speech at the exhibition that UAE-Japanese relations are witnessing continued momentum thanks to the two countries’ joint mission to continue advancing their decades-long partnership.

“Efforts to advance Emirati-Japanese relations to broader horizons stem from a strategic trade and investment partnership with a solid base of commercial prosperity, as bilateral non-oil trade in 2024 reached about $17.7 billion, an increase of 2.2 percent compared to 2023 and a growth of 32 percent compared to 2021. Japan is the ninth largest trading partner of the UAE globally, while the country is Japan’s first trading partner in the Gulf region,” he said.

Al Zeyoudi added: “The two countries launched talks to reach a comprehensive economic partnership agreement last November, and it is expected that we will complete this agreement before the end of this year, opening up great horizons and providing promising opportunities for the private sector and business communities on both sides to build long-term partnerships that contribute to joint economic growth.”

The Japan-Kyoto Trade Exhibition is set to become an annual fixture in the Middle East, providing a platform for Japanese businesses to showcase their products and services while enabling UAE-based enterprises to explore new commercial opportunities.

Organized by Maico Enterprise, the exhibition aligns with the growing interest of Japanese companies in expanding their footprint in the UAE and the broader Middle East, particularly as the two nations advance negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Mai Sakaue, CEO of Maico Enterprise and Chair of the Executive Committee for the Japan Trade Exhibition emphasized the event’s significant growth in participation, with over 100 exhibiting companies and brands.

Sakaue told Arab News Japan that the exhibition last year featured companies mostly from Kyoto. This year’s event sees more companies coming from different parts of Japan.

She added that she hoped the trade exhibition would help further strengthen the CEPA negotiations.

This expansion underscores the UAE’s importance as a gateway for Japanese businesses seeking regional expansion.

The Japan Trade Exhibition is taking place from Feb. 10-12 and aims to explore trade and investment prospects while leveraging Dubai’s strategic location as a global business hub.

Sakaue further highlighted the historical significance of trade between the Arab world and Japan, stating: “Historical records show that the trade of incense wood between the Arab countries and Japan has existed since the Heian period, over a thousand years ago. At this trade show, we will begin the opening ceremony with a performance of incense rituals using incense wood that is more than a thousand years old, celebrating the origins of our long-standing trade history. We hope that this event will not only foster future business opportunities but also help build connections between many people, contributing to peace and development”