Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida Visits the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

1. Attending the WFES 2024 and the Green Hydrogen Summit 2024 (April 16)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida attended the opening ceremony for WFES 2024, an event focusing on renewable energy and environmental technologies as its theme. In addition, he visited the Japan Pavilion, in which Japanese companies exhibited key technologies for realizing a clean society such as clean energy technologies including those related to hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon recycling/CCUS, and water treatment technology. Furthermore, he also visited the booths showcased by Japanese companies and exchanged views with stakeholders on Japan's advanced clean energy technologies.

Moreover, he attended the Green Hydrogen Summit 2024, in which participants held discussions on the role played by hydrogen in decarbonization and the future perspectives of hydrogen. At a high-level panel of the summit, he conveyed Japan’s future directions in its hydrogen policies and the importance of international cooperation to realize a hydrogen economy.

2. Attending the IRENA Assembly (April 17)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida attended the IRENA Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the international organization. He conveyed the importance of working towards net-zero goal as a whole world through various pathways tailored to the circumstances of individual countries and the significance of innovation to further expand the introduction of renewable energy. He also confirmed cooperation with IRENA and its member countries in the field of renewable energy.

3. Attending the first meeting of the Japan-UAE Joint Business Council Forum (April 18)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida attended the first meeting of the Japan-UAE Joint Business Council Forum, a body led by the private sector to hold discussions on the business environment and cooperation between Japan and the UAE. He expressed congratulations for the convening of the council while mentioning the active exchange of high-level government officials between Japan and the UAE, and, amid this exchange, the ongoing expansion of the bases for Japanese companies with an interest in doing business with the UAE and the advancing cooperation in the fields of advanced technologies and decarbonization.

4. Meetings with dignitaries

(1) Meeting with H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy to Japan of the UAE and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) (April 17)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida and Minister Al Jaber confirmed that Japan and the UAE are important partners for each other and also that both countries will continue to advance bilateral cooperation in such fields as clean energy and advanced technologies. Following this, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida stated Japan’s appreciation for the UAE’s stable supply of crude oil to Japan and encouraged the UAE to cooperate in the stabilization of the international crude oil market in light of the recent rise in crude oil prices.

(2) Meeting with Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (April 18)

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida and Director-General La Camera confirmed the ideal approaches to the energy transition and Japan-IRENA cooperation to expand the introduction of renewable energy worldwide. While sharing with the Director-General the importance of working towards net-zero goal as a whole world through various pathways, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida stated the significance of innovation to further expand the introduction of renewable energy and conveyed Japan’s expectations to IRENA for the analysis and dissemination of measures for introducing renewable energy in a manner tailored to the circumstances of individual countries.

Division in Charge

Information on energy:

International Strategy on Energy Resources Office, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Information on IRENA:

International Affairs Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Information on the Japan-UAE Business Council:

Middle East and Africa Division, Trade Policy Bureau