UAE-Japan SME Platform Inauguration

The UAE-Japan SME Platform was officially inaugurated in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 8th October, in the presence of H.E. Eng. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy and H.E. Hiroshige Seko, Japan Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The platform was formed under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the UAE Ministry of Economy (MOE) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in January 2017 concerning innovation and small and medium enterprises, promoting joint initiatives, knowledge and technology transfer, exchange of experience and streamlining of business operations of SMEs located across the UAE.

The inauguration was attended by H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, the MOE’s Undersecretary for Foreign Trade and Industry; Mr. Osamu Mizui, Executive Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO); Mr. Masami Ando, Managing Director of JETRO Dubai & MENA; and other senior government officials and entrepreneurs from the UAE and Japan.

The platform is one of the key service and development programs implemented by JETRO to facilitate the access of SMEs to the international markets. It is the 22nd platform of Japan in the world and the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa managed by JETRO.

Under the framework of the platform and in cooperation with the representatives of other Economic Development Departments, various Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Free Zones in the UAE, JETRO has appointed expert coordinators to support Japanese SMEs interested in expanding their business and making investments in the UAE.  JETRO will collaborate with the UAE’s government entities in streamlining the process of establishing businesses and solving business-related issues.

The inauguration ceremony also featured the signing of MoU between JETRO and the Dubai Department of Economic Development. Other MoUs are expected to be signed with the economic development departments of the other emirates to expand the platform’s framework and to enhance economic and trade relations between the parties.