UAE participates in CEATEC 2024 exhibition in Japan to empower national SMEs to attract investments & support their growth and expansion in foreign markets

H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei: Exhibition a significant opportunity to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences in entrepreneurship & advanced technology

 H.E. Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, led the UAE delegation participating in the advanced technologies exhibition CEATEC 2024, held in Chiba, Japan, from 15 to 18 October. The participation was aimed at enabling Emirati SMEs to showcase their products and services at the UAE's national pavilion in the exhibition and attract new investments to support their business growth.

H.E. Al Mazrouei emphasized that the UAE and Japan share a historical relationship and a comprehensive strategic partnership covering all fields, thanks to the shared aspirations of both leaderships to continually develop them.

H.E. said: “The UAE wise leadership’s vision for the future of the national economy focuses on empowering Emirati entrepreneurs in various business activities and diverse economic sectors by providing all the necessary resources and opportunities for the success of their ventures. Furthermore, it seeks to bring about a fundamental shift in the country’s entrepreneurial environment, making it an attractive hub for creative minds, innovators, and inventors, and the number one global destination for entrepreneurship by the next decade, in line with the objectives of the National Agenda for Entrepreneurship and SMEs.”

 “In collaboration with our partners, the Ministry of Economy continues to develop initiatives and programs that provide comprehensive support to Emirati entrepreneurs, create a conducive environment for the growth of their businesses and enable them to attract investments and access foreign markets. The entrepreneurial sector is one of the main drivers of national economic growth and has a key role in enhancing our economy’s competitiveness both regionally and globally,” she added.

H.E. Al Mazrouei said: “The UAE's participation in CEATEC 2024 exhibition marks a significant milestone in bolstering economic relations with Japan in key sectors such as entrepreneurship, SMEs, the new economy, technology, digital transformation, and innovation. The exhibition serves as a vital platform for facilitating the expansion of our SMEs in international markets and strengthening their connections with investors and business leaders. It will also enable them to gain knowledge on best practices and expertise on latest technologies used in startup management."

Furthermore, H.E. apprised the exhibition participants of the opportunities offered by the UAE to investors, entrepreneurs, and SMEs from around the world. She highlighted the advantages of the UAE’s strategic geographical location, along with its advanced infrastructure, technology, and business-friendly legislative and regulatory frameworks. Most notably, the UAE was ranked first globally as the best place to conduct businesses by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report 2024. In this context, she invited the Japanese private sector to expand their operations in the UAE’s new economy sectors.

H.E. Shehab Ahmed Al Fahim, UAE Ambassador to Japan, stated that the trade and economic relations between the two countries has entered a new phase of growth after celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022.

He pointed out that the UAE and Japan have marked the 50 years anniversary of bilateral relations with the launch of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between them. The two countries have also initiated negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will open up new avenues to support the prosperity and sustainable progress of both economies.

UAE’s efforts in supporting digital transformation

H.E. Al Mazrouei participated in a panel discussion, where she highlighted the UAE’s efforts in advancing digital transformation, technology, and innovation, as well as digitizing government services according to the highest global standards. This contributes to making the UAE a global hub for the new economy and the most pioneering government services system in line with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.

Visit to UAE pavilion at CEATEC 2024

During her visit to the UAE pavilion, organized by the UAE Embassy in Japan, she reviewed the products and services showcased by UAE SMEs participating in the event. Her Excellency interacted with the owners of these projects, learning more about their ideas and requirements. In addition, H.E. visited several Japanese company booths showcasing advanced technology and e-commerce solutions.

Accompanied by H.E. Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, Ambassador of the UAE to Japan, H.E. Al Mazrouei also visited Abu Dhabi government pavilion, represented by the Abu Dhabi Unified Government System (TAMM), affiliated with the Department of Government Empowerment in Abu Dhabi, where the third generation of the system, fully powered by AI, was showcased. TAMM’s latest version provides more than 800 digital services for which more than 40 government entities and private sector companies cooperate. These include solutions tailored for the business sector and investors, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s efforts to develop government services, stimulate innovation, and elevate the UAE’s ranking in global competitiveness indicators.

Meetings with Japanese government officials

H.E. Al Mazrouei met with H.E. Matsuo Takehiko, Japanese Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, particularly entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises. Her Excellency also met with Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, to learn about Japan’s advanced experiences in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, and to support joint efforts to create more opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs in both markets.

Visit to Japanese business incubators & accelerators

In addition, H.E. Al Mazrouei visited a number of business accelerators, incubators and innovation centers in various Japanese cities, most notably JAFCO, Open Network Lab (Onlab), Plug and Play, and the Japan Innovation Center (CIC). The visits were aimed at exchanging expertise and best practices in the fields of scientific research, entrepreneurship, startups, financial technology and artificial intelligence, as well as learning about the latest technology used in the development and growth of advanced industries.

Strengthening investment and trade cooperation between the two countries

H.E. held meetings with several Japanese officials during her visit to the headquarters of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the headquarters of the Japan Finance Corporation (JFC), to further investment and trade cooperation between the UAE and Japan. The meetings discussed a range of economic policies that support the competitiveness and flexibility of the economies of the two countries.

The UAE delegation included several government officials, most notably H.E. Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, Ambassador of the UAE to Japan, representatives of the Department of Government Empowerment in Abu Dhabi, and 11 Emirati SMEs.

CEATEC exhibition

CEATEC is one of the largest IT and electronics exhibitions and conferences in Japan. Held every October, it is an ideal platform for technology and electronics manufacturing companies to showcase their latest innovative technologies and exchange knowledge and experiences.