Japan eager to collaborate with UAE on renewables

Tatsuo Watanabe has been Japan's ambassador to the UAE for almost four years.

ABU DHABI // The Japanese government is eager for its corporations to collaborate with the UAE in the renewable energy sector, says its outgoing ambassador.

Japan has technological know-how and the Emirates have capital to jointly make change. Both countries, said Tatsuo Watanabe, "are eager to promote bilateral energy cooperation".

The envoy praised Masdar, which plays a key role in promoting renewable energy. This summer Japan launched an internship programme with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. Five of the institute's students are currently in Japan to study renewable energy technology employed by Japanese corporations.

"Through this internship programme, our ties in the renewable energy development will further be expanded and deepened," Mr Watanabe said.

During his almost four-year stay in the country, Mr Watanabe said he "made every effort to introduce and promote the Japanese culture so that the Japanese culture would contribute to the cultural diversity of the UAE".

The partnership between the two can be traced to the late 1960s, when a Japanese company participated in oil exploration.

The UAE is now the largest importer of Japanese products in the GCC, and has the overwhelming market share of Japanese cars in the region.

"The oil trade still plays a major role in our relationship, which represents about 20 per cent of the Japanese total oil imports," Mr Watanabe said. "The volume of the UAE export of aluminium to Japan is increasing steadily."

The relationship between the two countries extends well beyond trade. The ambassador was quick to point out the support of the Abu Dhabi government in establishing a new site for the Japanese school.

"I have a dream that Emirati and Japanese alumni of the school will actively contribute to the further development of the mutual relationship, " he added.

This article has been corrected since it was published. A quote misattributed to Tatsuo Watanabe, the outgoing Japanese ambassador to the UAE, has been removed.