Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 7, 2024 – The Abu Dhabi-Japan Economic Council (ADJEC) reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable future during its 10th session held today in Abu Dhabi. The high-level meeting, co-chaired by Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Kodaira Nobuyori, President of the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), focused on supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy, the upcoming COP28 climate conference, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The session brought together key figures including Japan’s state minister of economy, trade, and industry, Kazuchika Iwata, and ambassadors from both nations. Business leaders, government officials, and representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also participated, reflecting the broad commitment to collaboration.
Discussions centered on the energy transition and green innovation, with working groups presenting reports on sustainable energy, infrastructure, education, human resource development, and other relevant topics.
“Over the past years, cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Japan has grown significantly, boosting trade and investment,” said Al Zaabi. He highlighted ADJEC’s role as a platform for economic cooperation and exploration of new collaborative avenues.
Building on the momentum of the Prime Minister of Japan’s visit to the UAE in July 2023, which yielded over 20 agreements between entities from both countries, the 10th session emphasized the shared commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
“The UAE’s extension of the Year of Sustainability underscores our collective dedication,” Al Zaabi added. “We are accelerating initiatives to foster a future characterized by sustainable economic development.”
Nobuyori, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of joint action during COP28, which will be held under the UAE’s chairmanship. He stressed the need to accelerate the energy transition and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
“Considering this shared challenge,” Nobuyori stated, “there are ample opportunities for multi-layered cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Japan for the next generation.”
The session highlighted the crucial role of ADJEC’s working groups in promoting sustainable development programs. Decarbonization workshops for Japanese companies and Abu Dhabi institutions were cited as examples of successful collaboration.
“Our economic relations cover various sectors, and we are eager to expand and diversify further,” said UAE Ambassador Shihab Ahmed. The newly established Japan-UAE Innovation Partnership (JUIP) is seen as a key driver of collaboration in clean energy, green chemicals, and recycling technologies.
The UAE stands as one of Japan’s top trading partners in the Middle East, while Japan is the UAE’s third largest globally. This strong economic relationship is further bolstered by a non-oil trade volume that has grown by 36% in the past two years.
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