Japan and the UAE have had strong trade and commercial links for many years and have cooperated to develop various mutually beneficial business opportunities. The Japanese embassy in the UAE was established in 1974 and since then increasing numbers of nationals have moved here and businesses have set up operations in Dubai, including Mistui and Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Main exports for the UAE to Japan include crude oil and natural gas, totalling $8.7 billion, with imports from Japan consisting primarily of cars, electrical items, machinery and textiles amounting to over $2.5 billion.
His Excellency Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC, commented: “The Asian market has become increasingly important in today’s global economy and we are keen to strengthen our ties with each of these countries. In particular Japan, with whom we already have a close relationship, is rapidly developing and specifically the financial sector is seeing enormous growth and success. It is therefore very fitting that two of the major financial centres from Asia and the Middle East should collaborate in order to pool their knowledge and potential, helping to further the expansion of both Japan and Dubai.”
Mr. Hatano graduated from the University of Tokyo and later with an MBA from the University of California. He went on to enjoy a successful career in banking, working for the Export-Import Bank of Japan and the World Bank. In 1999, he moved to Hong Kong to work for the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and subsequently moved to the Mitsubishi Corporation in 2002. He was a visiting professor at the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University for over three years before being appointed Ambassador of Japan to the UAE in July 2006.
