Abu Dhabi And Japan Strengthen Ties For Sustainable Development And Energy Transition

The 10th session of the Abu Dhabi-Japan Economic Council (ADJEC), held today in Abu Dhabi, underscored the commitment of both regions to support the objectives of UAE Net Zero 2050, COP28, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This session, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), continued to highlight the successful collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Japan, focusing on fostering a sustainable future.

Chaired by Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, and Kodaira Nobuyori, President of JCCME, the session welcomed notable attendees including Kazuchika Iwata, Japan’s state minister of economy, trade, and industry, Akio Isomata, Ambassador of Japan to the UAE, Shihab Ahmed Alfaheem, UAE ambassador to Japan, alongside senior officials, executives, government officials, business owners, and SMEs. The discussions centered around energy transition and green innovation with group activity reports on sustainable energy, infrastructure, education, human resources development among other topics.

Ahmed Al Zaabi highlighted the evolving cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Japan which has significantly diversified and evolved over the years. He noted that since the 9th session in Tokyo last March, over 20 agreements were signed during the Prime Minister of Japan’s visit to the UAE in July 2023 to strengthen ties further. Al Zaabi emphasized Abu Dhabi's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and fostering sustainable economic development.

In his opening speech, Nobuyori pointed out the global trend towards carbon neutrality and the commitment made at COP28 under UAE’s chairmanship. He stressed the opportunities for cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Japan in decarbonisation efforts. Nobuyori also mentioned workshops conducted for Japanese companies and Abu Dhabi institutions to provide insights for future developments.

Amb. Shihab Ahmed spoke about expanding and diversifying economic relations through the new Japan-UAE Innovation Partnership (JUIP), which focuses on clean energy, green chemicals, and recycling technology. This partnership aims to strengthen collaborations as part of global strides towards decarbonisation.

The trade relationship between Japan and the UAE has been robust with Japan being one of UAE’s top trading partners in the Middle East. The total volume of trade between both regions for the first 10 months of 2023 exceeded US$38.2 billion (AED 140.6 billion), with non-oil trade increasing by 36 percent from US$10.8 billion (AED 39.7 billion) in 2020 to US$14.7 billion (AED 54 billion) in 2022.

Since its inception in 2011, ADJEC has played a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Abu Dhabi. It has created numerous business opportunities while facilitating trade and investments between the two regions. This ongoing collaboration is a testament to both parties' dedication to achieving sustainable development goals and fostering economic growth.

With inputs from WAM