DUBAI: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry received a high profile official delegation from Hokkaido Prefecture, the second largest island of Japan, during their recent visit to promote bilateral cooperation and investment ties between Dubai and Hokkaido businesses.
The official delegation, headed by H.E. Harumi Takahashi, Governor of Hokkaido Prefecture, was received by H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber, who extended the Chamber’s support to the visitors seeking stronger trade ties, especially in the area of food production and tourism. H.E. Hisashi Michigami, Consul General of Japan in Dubai, accompanied the delegation.
In his welcome address, H.E. Al Ghurair, said: We assure the Japanese delegation of our full cooperation in supporting all your promotional endeavours seeking enhanced trade relations with Dubai.
“The emirate offers a fertile investment environment to Japanese companies looking to make it a base to reach out to clients in the region and the world over,” he said.
H.E. Al Ghurair further stated that over the years, Dubai Chamber has been enjoying a very cordial relationship with key Japanese business partners as the country is the 8th largest trading partner of Dubai and bilateral ties between the two sides is growing at a steady rate.
“Dubai’s non-oil trade with Japan was AED 40.8 billion last year. This is up 14.2% on the AED 36.6 billion recorded in 2013 and we hope this positive trend will continue. Currently, there are 124 Japanese partnership and ownership companies registered with Dubai Chamber and operating in the emirate and there is scope for more to join in,” he said.
“As your region is rich in fresh produce, it can serve as our region’s food basket while Dubai, which is a gateway to the markets of the Middle East offers access to many key emerging markets of the world. Our strong land, sea and air connections as well as our expertise in transshipment and logistics makes us a leading hub regionally and internationally,” added H.E. Al Ghurair.
Thanking Dubai Chamber for its support in the past and in hosting the present delegation, H.E. Takahashi stressed on Hokkaido’s investment potential in tourism and the food industry which she said is now emphasising more on halal food to attract Arab tourists.
H.E. Takahashi and H.E. Hisashi Michigami, Consul General of Japan in Dubai, invited Dubai Chamber officials and members of the business community to attend the “Hokkaido Food Fair” being organised on October 19th at the Consul General’s residence in Dubai.
