Japanese investors willing to grasp opportunities in Dubai

Over 1,700 visitors flocked the forum and its associated exhibition in the last three days.

At the forum, Japanese businessmen and investors showed their interest to grasp one of the many investment opportunities that Dubai offers in different economic, trade, real estate, tourism and industrial sectors.

The last day sessions of the forum included presentations conducted by a number of businessmen in the fields of tourism and aviation, in addition to infrastructure, development and construction sectors.

Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, Director-General of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) delivered the final statement of the forum during the closing ceremony.

Abdul Salam Al Madani, president of Index Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation, and Tanaka, Executive Manager of International Affairs of Osaka Government were also present on the occasion.

Al Mutaiwee stressed the success of the forum in attracting a large number of economists and businessmen from Japan. He also hailed the efforts paid in organising the forum and bringing it to success.

Qasim Sultan, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, Al Mutaiwee and Al Madani handed over the trophies and certificates of participation to the representatives of Dubai government and private establishments who took part in the forum.

Al Mutaiwee said: "We are proud of the success that was brought to the forum organised in the Japanese city of Osaka. We look forward that the Japanese would participate in other forum and exhibitions due to be held in Dubai, as well as to establish various direct and mutual investment projects in Dubai benefiting from the great opportunities and facilities available in the emirate."

He expressed his satisfaction over the success of the forum and the exhibition adding that they have lured more than 500 visitors during the first day. He pointed out that the topics discussed in the forum included business environment in Dubai, transfer of trade and industrial development and expertise, financial services and commodities, healthcare, information technology, communication and media, energy and logistic services and environment technologies, tourism and aviation, in addition to subjects related to the Dubai infrastructure and construction boom.

Abdul Salam Al Madani, President of Index, said that the forum and its associated exhibition recorded a rate of 70 per cent of satisfaction which reflects the good organisation of the event and the readiness of the government establishments to take part in such international forums.

On the other hand, the quality of services displayed in the exhibition gained a rate of 80 per cent according to the feedback information collected from the visitors, whereas the papers discussed in the forum got another high rate of satisfaction.

"The success of the exhibition urges us to consider organising more forums in the future and encourage other government and private corporations to take part," said Al Madani.

Glenn Johnston, Director of the Tokyo branch of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, conducted a presentation under the title "Basic Travel Information to the Japanese".

He highlighted the aspects of tourism attraction in Dubai which include desert tourism, safari trips, beaches, wild life and bird watching, in addition to cultural and heritage features that include museums, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Civilised Communication and others.

Mohammed bin Braik, from Dubai Property Company, conducted another presentation under the title "Construction and Development in Dubai. He talked about the factors of attraction to Dubai and the rapid rates of growth which the emirate is witnessing thanks to the huge economic projects carried out in different parts in Dubai. He also highlighted the wise vision of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, in making Dubai a major financial and business hub and the launch of various remarkable and unique projects in a record time.

He also talked about the project of the new Dubai airport which was launched to cope with the increasing numbers of passengers as more than 70 million passengers are expected to use this airport by 2020. He also spoke of the Dubai's Train project, as well as the achievements of the Dubai Holding Company and its subordinate companies.

Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), one of the major participants of the forum, successfully leveraged the event's excellent networking platform to initiate new business relations.

The forum gave PCFC an opportunity to closely interact with Japanese investors who attended the event to explore the business opportunities available in Dubai.

PCFC highlighted the rapid growth of Dubai as a leading international city as well as the facilities and incentives Dubai offers overseas investors. Several Japanese companies are looking at Dubai as an important hub and have plans to set up their regional headquarters in the city.

Hiroshi Hazama, Deputy General Manager of Overseas Civil Engineering Construction Department at Obayashi Corporation in Japan, conducted another presentation in which he talked about the Dubai Metro Project as the first metro construction to be carried out in Dubai.

Marwan Ahmed bin Galeeta, from the Department of Properties and Lands of the Dubai Government, also discussed the registration process of lands and properties and its role in developing the real estate market in Dubai.

Engineer Naser Ahmed Saeed, Assistant Director of Dubai Municipality, talked in the forum about the development of Dubai's infrastructure. He focused on the emirate's projects of road and bridges and the problem of traffic congestion and the strategies and plans set for Dubai to year 2020.

On the other hand, the Japanese officials underlined the fact that the world is paying much interest in the Middle East region due to the increase of oil prices and the political changes in the area.

According to them, the strategic importance of the region does not only lie on the fact that Japan imports more than 90 per cent of its need of oil from this region, but also that the region is being rapidly developing as a big new market for the Japanese products.

Minoro Nakamura, Director of the Middle East and Africa Trade Policy Office at the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said that the ministry is planning to set up various relations with the Middle East countries in a way that would be beneficial for all parties, and that they are getting ready to activate efforts with Jetro.

He added that Dubai Municipality plays a vital role as a main gate to the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and that Dubai's economy is gradually developing. He said it is necessary to improve the strategic relations of Japan with Dubai and to activate the partnership relations between Osaka and Dubai in accordance with the twinning agreement signed recently between the two cities.

President of the Japanese Matsushida Company pointed out that Dubai is the first city in the Middle East that established an industrial free zone where it succeeded in attracting a large of foreign companies.

He said that the trade volume between Dubai and Japan is continually increasing, and according to the survey conducted by Jetro, there are more than 144 Japanese companies working in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, and these companies are carrying out giant investments in Dubai. He pointed out that the forum provides a suitable opportunity for the Japanese companies in Dubai to develop their businesses.