Company to pave way for increased role of Japan’s SME sector in the Middle East

Dubai-UAE: 29 January, 2015 - Japan Trade Centre (JTC), a private-sector business-to-business platform dedicated to promoting Japan’s small and medium enterprises across international markets, has commenced operations at the Business Park in Dubai World Central (DWC).

JTC DWC LLC will serve a growing body of Japanese SMEs in the UAE, spanning various industries such as machinery, construction materials, electronics, food and beverage, textiles and jewelry. Currently, JTC is linked to a pool of over 2,000 Japanese business partners - including manufacturers and traders of approximately 30,000 diverse products - who are poised to promote their business in Dubai.  

Welcoming JTC, Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer of DACC, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “As a gateway to the world, DWC is proud to open doors to the Japan Trade Centre. Located at the crossroads of three continents, we offer our business partners world-class infrastructure and a diverse, expanding economy.”

Shogo Ishida, Director of JTC DWC LLC, said: “The UAE is Japan’s strategic trading partner and a natural springboard for its SMEs to enter the regional markets. The UAE has cultivated a fertile business ecosystem, which is why we chose to base the company in Dubai World Central. With our new offices, we are well positioned to support Japanese SMEs, many of which are actively looking to tap the Middle East as part of their growth trajectory.”

The establishment of JTC DWC LLC is anticipated to further boost trade flows between the UAE and Japan, which totaled US$25.92 billion in the first half of 2014. In the same period, the UAE exports to Japan were worth US$ 21.34 billion while its imports amounted to US$4.59 billion, making the country Japan’s largest trading partner in the Arabian Gulf.

Japan’s 4.2 million SMEs are the nation’s wealth generators, representing 99.7% of its companies, 70% of the work force, and more than 50% of its manufacturing industry . While most of these companies are not as well-known as Japan’s giants such as Toyota, Honda and Sony, they form the backbone of the service sector and are a crucial part of Japan’s manufacturing and export supply chain.