Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Business Forum

March 2017

In commemoration of a visit to Japan by King Salman of Saudi Arabia, JETRO jointly held the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Business Forum in Tokyo with the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) on March 14. The forum was divided into a “Saudi Investment Session” and “Vision 2030 Session.” During the first session, presentations were made by the Saudi government as well as Saudi governmental organizations in five promising fields. King Salman took part in a special portion at the end of the second session moderated by JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige, in which Economic Ministers Adel M. Fakeih and Hiroshige Seko also participated and emphasized that ties between the two countries have to be further tightened through the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 cooperative group. Through both sessions combined, the forum was joined by a total of 650 Japanese people from business circles and related organizations. There was also a closed meeting held between King Salman and top Japanese business leaders hosted by the Japanese government and moderated by Chairman Ishige.

This forum was held as a follow-up to a previous one hosted last September on the occasion of a visit to Japan by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
During the first session, speeches were delivered by Abdulrahman Alharbi; Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade, Minister of Commerce and Investment of Saudi Arabia; and Shigeru Endo; Ambassador to the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Gulf Region under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Ambassador Endo stated in his greeting that Japan would more closely work with Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner which shares the same future vision since the two countries enjoy a complementary relationship. Following their speeches, presentations were made by the Saudi government in the following five fields: “information and communication technology,” “energy,” “transportation and logistics,” “medical equipment and service,” and “housing development.”

During the “Vision 2030 Session,” opening addresses were made by JCCME Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi and JETRO Chairman Hiroyuki Ishige. Chairman Nakanishi announced that during the forum his organization was going to present to the Saudi side the third edition of a booklet which compiled business plans by Japanese companies as part of a combined public-private effort to support Vision 2030.

A special portion was held at the end of the second session in the presence of Saudi King Salman, moderated by Mr. Ishige. It began with a video illustrating the attractiveness of Saudi Arabia, and was followed by speeches by Economic Ministers Adel M. Fakeih and Hiroshige Seko. Saudi Economic Minister Fakeih emphasized that the Saudi government would devote its effort to deregulate rules with the aim of drawing investment from Japan, and it would also focus on implementing institutional reforms as well as cultivating human resources in a wide variety of fields such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, development of SMEs, culture and sports and financing. Japanese Economic Minister Seko shared his belief that “Saudi-Japan Vision 2030” would play the role of a compass which would lead the way to deepening economic relations between both countries, while incorporating synergistic effects between "Saudi Vision 2030" and Japan's "Growth Strategy." He also announced that the Japanese government had plans to conduct a joint survey for setting up the Enabler Showcase Zone in Saudi Arabia’s special economic zone and to establish a “Saudi-Japan Vision Office” in both cities of Riyadh and Tokyo.

Taking advantage of a break during the second session, a meeting between King Salman and top Japanese business leaders was held by the Japanese government, also moderated by Chairman Ishige. Remarks were delivered by Sadayuki Sakakibara, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), and a commemorative picture was taken of all participants.

JETRO will work with Saudi Arabia to assist in improving the country's business environment and facilitating its exports as a member of the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 cooperative group. It will also continue activities and services to contribute to developing economic relations between both countries and helping Japanese companies expand their business in Saudi Arabia.