Qatar participated in the Fifth Japan-Arab Economic Forum in Tokyo, focusing on strengthening economic relations between the two regions. Qatar’s ambassador to Japan, Jaber bin Jarallah Al Marri, represented the Gulf state at the event.
According to Qatar’s foreign ministry, discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including energy security, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, sustainable development, and human resources development.
Hosted by Japan’s foreign ministry from July 10-11, the forum included approximately 700 participants, including Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. Key topics included diversifying economic relationships, climate change responses, and collaboration on innovations such as AI.
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Economic resilience was also a primary focus, with participants sharing insights on sectors like energy security and digital infrastructure. It was announced that the sixth Japan-Arab Economic Forum will be held in an Arab country in 2026.
The forum, first held in 2009, has aimed to deepen economic ties in trade, investment, energy, and technology, and address challenges like climate change. Japan has been actively strengthening its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, recognizing its vital role in energy supply.
Japan has been negotiating a free trade agreement with the GCC, with initial talks dating back to 2006. While Japan does not impose tariffs on GCC goods, the GCC imposes a 5% tariff on most Japanese products. Notably, Japan was Qatar’s first LNG customer in the late 1990s, solidifying a long-term partnership in the energy sector.
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