The Japan Kyoto Trade Exhibition serves as the annual unit providing a level platform for Japanese businesses to showcase their goods and services in the Middle East
Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) released their statistics that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as their top trading partner in the Middle East. For eleven months ranging from January to November 2023, the Japanese cemented their economic bilateral trade relations by exporting goods and services accounting for over $8 billion.
On Monday, the governments of Kyoto, in partnership with the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, hosted a much-awaited Japan Kyoto Trade Exhibition, inviting visitors to the Dubai World Trade Center.
This exhibition is a three-day long event and is anticipated to attract 20,000 spectators. It was inaugurated by the Director General of Dubai Chambers, Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, and the Vice Governor of Kyoto’s government, Akimasa Yamashita.
Other dignitaries present at the opening ceremony were Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Sheikh Manaa Bin Hashir Al Maktoum, CEO of Macio Enterprise Inc. Mai Sakaue besides event organisers, businessmen and investors from both nations.
The DG of Dubai Chambers, Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, said at the opening of the first edition of the JKTE that the exhibition will become a favourable platform for improving the bilateral relations between business communities in both countries in various sectors. He mentioned the interest of Dubai Chambers in luring Japanese investors to grab investment opportunities in the Emirate.
Last year, 119 new Japanese companies joined the Dubai Chamber’s membership taking the membership count up to 310 for active Japanese companies registration at the Chamber’s for membership.
The Japan Kyoto Trade Exhibition serves as the annual unit providing a level platform for Japanese businesses to showcase their goods and services in the Middle East. It simultaneously provides UAE-based companies with arenas to venture into other markets.
Akimasa Yamashita, Vice Governor of the Kyoto Government, said in his inaugural speech that they take immense pride in hosting the JKTE in collaboration with the Dubai Chambers in the globally renowned city of Dubai, known for its tourism avenues and business opportunities.
Kyoto stands as a historic city in Japan, serving as an integral point for Japanese culture. The city has for centuries groomed traditional crafts like textiles and ceramics, traditional foods like matcha tea, and the overall Japanese cuisine. It has maintained its ancient practices of tea ceremony and flower arranging art known as ikebana.
Kyoto is also a testament to a varied range of cutting-edge industries with leading companies in the semiconductors industries and decarbonisation technologies. They have also emerged as a hub for content creation, especially the globally renowned anime movies and series, games, etc. Kyoto has successfully integrated its traditional techniques and cultures into its companies and achieved global recognition for these diverse cultures.
For the first eleven months last year, Japanese exports to the UAE amounted to 39.5% of the total exports of the island nation, with an estimated worth of $20.4 billion.
Mai Sakaue, chief executive officer of Maico Enterprise Inc., said that they are excited to collaborate with respected partners for the first-of-its-kind B2B engagement showcasing the country. This exhibition represents Japan’s dynamic approach on a global level.
They look at Dubai to build business relationships to launch their ambitions of venturing into international businesses. The JKTE stands as the perfect opportunity for making commitments to foster trade relations, boost economic progress, and cultivate an environment for innovation in the Middle East.
Sakaue mentioned that trade associations are responsible for substantially supporting the event by promoting trade and commerce and bringing in extra benefits for the participants. They thank the governments of the UAE and Japan for their crucial role in the hoisting of this event with their special initiatives aimed at promoting partnerships and trading activities.
