Arab News Japan

DUBAI: The UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said Monday that negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Japan will be completed by the end of 2025.

Al Zeyoudi said that negotiations for the agreement’s terms reflected the commitment of both nations to enhancing economic cooperation and opening new horizons for developmental partnership, according to a statement from the Emirates News Agency.

CEPA will contribute to “economic prosperity” and will create “further opportunities for the business communities in both countries.”

He also said that the UAE was Japan’s leading trade partner in the Arab World in terms of exports and imports, accounting for approximately 37 percent of Japan’s total exports to Arab countries.

Japan is among the UAE’s top ten trading partners.

In September 2024, the UAE and Japan initiated discussions to reach an agreement, aiming to create new opportunities for economic, investment and trade relations.