Arab League Secretary General Advocates For Stronger Arab-Japanese Economic Partnerships

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, stressed the need to broaden the Arab-Japanese partnership into a strategic alliance with practical outcomes in various sectors. Speaking at the fifth Japan-Arab Economic Forum in Tokyo, he urged expanding partnership mechanisms to include new areas such as technology for climate change, disaster risk reduction, smart transportation, tourism promotion, information security, artificial intelligence, smart housing, and education.

Aboul Gheit highlighted that these sectors offer promising investment and cooperation opportunities for both sides. He noted that this forum lays the groundwork for enhancing collaboration in other fields. This builds on a memorandum of cooperation signed between the Arab League and the Japanese government in 2013, which created a comprehensive institutional framework for Arab-Japanese collaboration.

The launch of political dialogue in 2017 aimed to exchange views on recent international developments and crises. Aboul Gheit emphasized that Japan remains a vital partner for Arab countries. Bilateral trade has grown from $114 billion in 2022 to nearly $140 billion since early 2024.

He reaffirmed the Arab League's willingness to discuss and implement ideas and initiatives that enhance this forum's role. This includes working with Arab organizations, specialized ministerial councils, and all Arab and Japanese partners. "The forum will yield results, generate ideas, and propose initiatives that strengthen Arab-Japanese economic cooperation," he said.

Aboul Gheit expressed confidence that the forum would produce tangible outcomes. He believes it will generate ideas and propose initiatives to bolster economic cooperation between Arab countries and Japan.

This forum serves as a foundation for enhancing collaboration across various domains. It builds upon previous agreements and dialogues aimed at strengthening ties between the two regions.

The Secretary General underscored the importance of leveraging technology to address climate change and mitigate disaster risks. He also highlighted advancements in smart transportation, tourism promotion, information security, artificial intelligence, smart housing, and education as key areas for future cooperation.

Aboul Gheit called for expanding partnership mechanisms to encompass these new areas. He believes they present significant investment opportunities for both sides.

The memorandum of cooperation signed in 2013 established a comprehensive framework for collaboration between the Arab League and Japan. The political dialogue launched in 2017 further aimed to exchange views on international developments and crises.

Japan remains a crucial partner for Arab countries. Bilateral trade has increased significantly from $114 billion in 2022 to nearly $140 billion since early 2024.

The Arab League is ready to discuss and implement ideas that enhance this forum's role in collaboration with various partners. Aboul Gheit is confident that this forum will yield positive results and strengthen economic cooperation between Arab countries and Japan.

This forum aims to build upon previous agreements and dialogues to enhance collaboration across various sectors. It seeks to transform the Arab-Japanese partnership into a strategic alliance with tangible outcomes.

The Secretary General emphasized leveraging technology to address climate change and mitigate disaster risks as key areas for future cooperation. He also highlighted advancements in smart transportation, tourism promotion, information security, artificial intelligence, smart housing, and education as promising investment opportunities.

Aboul Gheit called for expanding partnership mechanisms to include these new areas. He believes they offer significant potential for investment and cooperation between both sides.

The memorandum of cooperation signed in 2013 created a comprehensive framework for collaboration between the Arab League and Japan. The political dialogue launched in 2017 aimed at exchanging views on international developments further strengthened ties between the two regions.

Bilateral trade between Japan and Arab countries has grown significantly from $114 billion in 2022 to nearly $140 billion since early 2024. This underscores Japan's importance as a partner for Arab countries.

With inputs from SPA