Saudi-Japan trade hits SR 212 bn

The Saudi-Japanese Business Council (SJBC) met at Asharqia Chamber here yesterday and discussed possible cooperation in developing industrial cities, petrochemical projects and manpower development.
Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, president of the Saudi side of SJBC, disclosed plans by the Council of Saudi Chambers to hold business council meetings at different chambers, rather than restricting them to Riyadh.
“Asharqia was selected for the meeting because of it is in the center of the Kingdom’s oil and petrochemical industries,” Al-Jeraisy told the delegates.
He highlighted the strong Saudi-Japanese relations that date back more than 50 years. He called for greater participation of the private sector in both countries to make use of investment opportunities.
Saudi-Japanese trade exchange rose to SR 212 billion last year from SR 165.6 billion in 2011. Saudi imports from Japan reached SR 31.1 billion while exports rose to SR 180.8 billion.
The Saudi Ambassador to Tokyo, Dr. Abdul Aziz Turkistani, said more than 200 businessmen took part in the meeting, including 100 Japanese executives representing major companies.
He said the Japanese delegates came from companies specialized in petrochemicals, energy, water management, automobiles, infrastructure, engineering and banking services. Turkistani highlighted the Saudi Embassy’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. “We want to implement four strategies in four years to develop cooperation in the oil and petrochemical sector, the infrastructure industry, transfer of Japanese technology and training of Saudi manpower,” he pointed out.
Turkistani said there are more than 450 Saudi students in Japanese universities and institutes. “We are making greater efforts to bring Japanese investments in infrastructure, railways, desalination, solar energy and renewable energy,” he said. The embassy gives visas to the Japanese in one day.
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, chairman of Asharqia, commended the growing business relations between the two countries.