I. Overview

The Japan-Arab Economic Forum was established as a framework for ministerial level dialogue by uniting efforts of the Government of Japan and Japan’s business community in cooperation with the League of Arab States (LAS) and its members, for the purpose of further enhancing the economic relationship between Japan and Arab states through cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade, investment, energy, science and technology, and human resource development.

Arab states are now endeavoring to diversify their economies and industries as their major challenge and are calling on Japan to expand economic relations with the entire Arab region. This is a big chance for Japanese companies to expand their business. Through holding this forum, it is expected that Japan's presence and communication capacity will be strengthened in the Arab region and this will eventually contribute to the enforcement of Japan's economic diplomacy, or resource diplomacy, in particular.

The First to Third meetings of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum were successfully held in Tokyo in 2009 and 2013, and in Tunis in 2010. All meetings witnessed more than 1000 participants from each Japanese and Arab side including ministers, officials and business people.

II. Outline of the Forum

1Date

Wednesday, 4 May 2016  Ministerial Session, B to B Meeting, Japan-Arab Business Fair
Thursday, 5 May 2016  Workshop, B to B Meeting, Japan-Arab Business Fair

2Venue

Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, Morocco
http://www.fourseasons.com/casablanca/

3Theme of Ministerial Session

· Diversification of Economic Relations
· Investment Opportunities in Morocco
· Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

4Structure for holding the forum and expected participants

On the Arab side, ministers from the LAS member countries who are in charge of either foreign affairs, industry, trade, economy or energy, as well as heads of economic associations, including chairmen of the chambers of commerce across the LAS, will participate in and exchange views in the forum.

On the Japanese side, officials from the Government of Japan and government-related organizations, as well as people involved in private organizations, will unite their efforts to hold the forum, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Keidanren, and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME).

5Expences

Participation fee is free.

Participants are kindly requested to bear the costs of their own flights, accommodation, transportation and other expenses during their stay in Morocco.

6Registration

Go to the page of REGISTRATION