Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that Japan is participating for the first time at the 21st Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2019), which is organised by DEWA under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of DEWA. WETEX 2019 will take place from October 21-23 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Five leading Japanese companies are also exhibiting at the 4th Dubai Solar Show. Both exhibitions are held under the umbrella of the sixth Green Week.
The Japanese companies will showcase their latest technologies used in large-scale solar power plant construction, solar panel systems with sun tracking technology, utilities cleaning systems, groundwater treatment systems, and industrial water treatment systems that generate potable water. They will also demonstrate Advanced Light Detection and Ranging System (LiDAR), scanning systems, unmanned aerial vehicles’ data processing systems powered by AI technologies, among many others. Through their participation at the exhibition, Japanese companies seek to expand their presence in the energy and water sectors across the GCC and Middle East.
“Dubai offers promising opportunities for Japanese companies, especially in light of the Emirate’s ambitious vision and mega projects launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. DEWA is working closely with some of the top Japanese companies to complete leading projects in the fields of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and renewable energy, in addition to projects involving Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Japanese companies consider Dubai an ideal destination to explore investment opportunities that the Emirate, the UAE and the region provide in the areas of energy, renewable energy, water and environment,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Founder and Chairman of WETEX.
“We are delighted with the maiden participation of leading Japanese companies at WETEX and Dubai Solar Show. These companies consider the two events as an opportunity to connect and network with thousands of exhibitors, participants, high-level officials and decision-makers in the UAE, GCC and the Middle East, in addition to benefitting from the agenda that features many conferences, workshops and specialised events. The exhibitions also facilitate meetings with leaders, experts and specialists from around the world to discuss the development and expansion of solar energy in the region, to achieve sustainable development and ensure a sustainable future for coming generations,” Al Tayer added.
The total volume of trade between the UAE and Japan reached AED 27.4 billion (USD 7.46 billion) in Q1 2019, compared with AED 30.2 billion (USD 8.24 billion) during the same period in 2018, as per official statistics of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
According to March 2019 statistics, the UAE posted a trade surplus with Japan of AED 14.3 billion (USD 3.9 billion) during Q1 2019, while the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to AED 9.2 billion (USD 2.49 billion). The UAE’s exports to Japan amounted to AED 6.56 billion (USD 1.78 billion) during the same month, while Japanese imports reached AED 2.6 billion (USD 708 million).
The UAE is Japan’s largest trade partner in the GCC, receiving the highest share of GCC’s imports from Japan. The imports mainly include cars, electronic devices, machinery and textiles, while the UAE’s exports to Japan are mainly crude oil and natural gas, in addition to aluminum in various forms. Petroleum products account for 98.4% of the UAE’s exports to Japan. The UAE is considered the second largest crude oil supplier to Japan in terms of volume, after Saudi Arabia.