Minister Muto Visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

1. Saudi Arabia

1. Japan-Saudi Arabia Business Council (January 12)

Minister Muto attended the Japan-Saudi Arabia Business Council, a framework for discussions between the private sectors in Japan and Saudi Arabia, which was held for the first time in five years since 2019, after the COVID-19 pandemic period (Japanese co-chair: Mr. Imai Seiji, Chairman, Mizuho Bank; Saudi Arabian co-chair: Mr. Tariq Abdel Hadi  Al-Qahtani, Chairman, Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons Group of Companies). Minister Muto pointed out the importance of collaboration with the Business Council to stimulate further partnerships under the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 and also showed Japan’s expectations for new potential collaboration between companies in Japan and Saudi Arabia in the fields of green transformation (GX) and industrial AI, which are the themes of this Business Council meeting.

2. Japan-Saudi Vision 2030 Ministerial Roundtable (January 12)

Minister Muto and H.E. Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment, jointly held the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030 Ministerial Roundtable as an occasion for discussions with private companies on the progress made in the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030. During his opening remarks, Minister Muto welcomed the agreements reached on new cooperation projects in the fields of finance, healthcare, clean energy, and games. He also explained the estimates of the impact on Saudi Arabia’s GDP brought about by Japan's ongoing cooperation with the kingdom. In addition, he expressed Japan’s determination to make Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which will open in April 2025, a success and to hand over the baton to Expo 2030 Riyadh, which will be held in 2030.

Moreover, the two ministers witnessed the signing of 13 new MOUs announced and then signed by private companies.

3. Bilateral meeting with H.E. Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment (January 12)

Prior to holding Japan-Saudi Vision 2030 Ministerial Roundtable, Minister Muto held a meeting with Minister Al-Falih. The two sides confirmed that Japan and Saudi Arabia will continue to encourage the public and private sectors to propel bilateral cooperation under the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030. The two ministers agreed that the countries will continue to collaborate toward the convening of the 8th Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Ministerial Meeting in Japan, taking into account the timing of holding Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

4. Bilateral meeting with H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy (January 12)

Minister Muto visited Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where he held a bilateral meeting with H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia. In the meeting, the two ministers emphasized that the two countries remain reliable and trusted partner, noting that Saudi Arabia is one of the largest and the most reliable sources of crude oil suppliers for Japan. The two ministers also shared the view that in undertaking energy transitions, it is important to take actions without harming energy security and economic growth, under various pathways in line with national circumstances, as well as to promote dialogue and collaboration between oil producing and consuming countries.

Moreover, both sides confirmed the need for further cooperation in wide-ranging areas, while welcoming the progress in the bilateral energy cooperation, including under the Light-house initiative.

5. Meeting with H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud, Chairman, Saudi E-sports Federation (SEF) (January 13)

Minister Muto held a meeting with SEF Chairman Faisal. He mentioned that Saudi Arabia has formulated a national strategy for games and e-sports and that the country has been hosting international e-sports events. In light of this, he stated that Japan would like to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of games and e-sports as well under the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030. Following this, the two sides exchanged views on the future directions of cooperation in which stakeholders in the fields of games and e-sports in the two countries can establish a win-win relationship, and they agreed to proactively advance cooperation in these fields, in which Saudi Arabia has strong expectations for Japan.

2. The UAE

1. Attending the WFES (January 14)

The WFES was held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), focusing on renewable energy and green technology as its themes. Minister Muto attended the opening ceremony for the meeting and talked with UAE dignitaries, including H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Special Envoy to Japan, and H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. Taking this opportunity, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry exhibited the Japan Pavilion upholding the theme of “Solutions to Achieving Sustainable Society” and displayed Japanese companies’ technology related to cutting-edge technology and AI. It also provided further information to visitors regarding Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

2. Meeting with H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Special Envoy to Japan (January 14)

Minister Muto held a meeting with Minister Jaber and conveyed Japan’s gratitude for the UAE’s stable supply of crude oil to Japan. Following this, the two sides held discussions on the stabilization of the international crude oil market and also confirmed that Japan-UAE cooperation has been advancing in climate change countermeasures and the field of cutting-edge technology.

In particular, concerning the field of space, they agreed to initiate specific discussions on the development of a roadmap to develop space industry base in the two countries.

• Joint Press Release/Cooperation for the Development of the Space Industry Base between Japan and the UAE(PDF:62KB)

Taking the opportunity of the meeting, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation announced the conclusion of a contract for the delivery of heavy-ion beam equipment to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and ADNOC stated its intention of agreement on the CLEAN Initiative to reduce methane emissions from LNG value chains, both of which were witnessed by Minister Muto, Minister Jaber, and H.E. Mr. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA). Moreover, on January 13, SpaceData Inc. of Japan and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the UAE, an organization engaging in the development of space technology, concluded an MOU for establishing a digital twin of the moon’s surface.

3. Meeting with H.E. Mr. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (January 14)

Minister Muto held a meeting with EAA Chairman Khaldoon. He welcomed cooperation projects, which were newly agreed on during this visit to the UAE. Taking into consideration the fact that the business world in Japan is interested in further partnerships with the UAE, the two sides held discussions on the further expansion of cooperation between Japan and the UAE, including the potential for collaboration with Mubadala Investment Company, in which Chairman Khaldoon serves as CEO.

Divisions in Charge

• Middle East and Africa Division, Trade Policy Bureau

• Space Industry Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau

• International Affairs Division, Commissioner’s Secretariat, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

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