The Saudi-Japanese Ministerial Investment Forum, in January 2026, saw the signing of 12 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across a wide range of sectors, including space, finance and agriculture.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the event aimed to enhance bilateral investment and trade cooperation, apart from facilitating access to new investment opportunities and reviewing joint initiatives in key industries, including energy, machinery, and equipment.
“This cooperation will further strengthen the investment partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan, particularly within the framework of the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030, which aims to deepen economic collaboration and foster long-term strategic ties between the two nations,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom has long been a key partner for Japan when it comes to the island nation’s energy security, serving as a stable and reliable supplier of crude oil. This relationship also aligns with Japan’s strong commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia through the sharing and transfer of advanced technologies and skill sets, which contribute to the Kingdom’s sustainable economic development.
The Saudi-Japanese Ministerial Investment Forum also explored ways to strengthen efforts to develop economic ties between the two countries and enable the private sector to capitalise on investment opportunities. The key theme of the event was “Invest in Saudi Arabia” in the presence of dignitaries like Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, President of the Saudi Esports Federation, the Minister of Investment Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha.
Among the attendees from the East Asian nation was the country’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, along with the participation of several government officials, as well as representatives from major Saudi and Japanese companies.
In an interview with Al-Ekhbariya, Al-Falih said: “Japan is our third largest trading partner and one of the largest investors in the Kingdom, with investments exceeding SR25 billion (USD 6.67 billion), if I recall correctly. However, our ambition is to see this mutual trade and investment, particularly Japanese investments in the Kingdom, grow.”
“Specifically, we are looking to focus on promising sectors targeted by the new Japanese Prime Minister, sectors that align perfectly with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030: the technology sector, the gaming sector, electronics, and digital content; the green energy sector, and renewable energy, which the Japanese need,” the minister added.
The minister went on to note that the Kingdom was the first country to export carbon-free ammonia products to Japan. Al-Falih, during his speech, also informed the media about Saudi Arabia’s preparations to begin the export of green hydrogen to Japan.