Arab News Japan

ABU DHABI: AVITA, a Japanese technology company specializing in AI, has established a presence in the UAE as it became the latest company to join the NextGen FDI initiative, the UAE’s Ministry of Economy announced. 

The NextGen FDI initiative aims to attract pioneering companies from all over the world to the UAE. The Japanese company’s UAE presence highlights the UAE’s commitment to becoming a global hub for technology and AI.

AVITA uses various AI tools to improve customer service and increase sales. Its customer-support platform AVACOM and its educational tool Ava Training use avatars as digital representations of real-life people to allow businesses and employees to overcome physical limitations. 

The company’s CEO, Hiroshi Ishiguro, received the UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award in 2015 and is considered a leading figure in human-robot interactions. 

“The integration of AVITA into the NextGen FDI initiative underscores our commitment to attracting visionary companies that push the boundaries of technology,” Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said, according to the Emirates News Agency. 

“Their groundbreaking work in avatar solutions not only addresses current challenges such as labor shortages but also paves the way for new job opportunities and innovative business practices. This collaboration will play a crucial role in our ambition to cultivate a diverse, knowledge-driven economy in the UAE that is prepared for the future,” he added. 

AVITA’s co-founder, Shogo Nishiguchi, said that he considers the UAE as a strategic step for global expansion.