A Japanese task force mission on Wednesday visited the Jeddah Chambers of Commerce and Industry to hold discussions on increasing business opportunities between Saudi and Japanese manufacturing companies as part of the Saudi-Japan joint national project that started in 2007. Dr. Abdullah Marei Bin Mahfouz, Vice Chairman of the JCCI, other senior officials and some businessmen interested in developing commercial relations with Japan held talks with the Japanese side headed by Takashi Mitsuka, Vice Secretary General of the Japan-Saudi Arabia Industrial Cooperation Task Force (JTF), and a number of Japanese mission members at the Jeddah Chamber's Board Hall. Mitsuka said the JTF has come to have direct communication with prominent Saudi business groups. He also said that Azzam Shalabi, President of National Industrial Cluster Development Program (NICDP), mentioned establishing factories in Saudi Arabia as part of NICDP's ‘Anchor Projects' in automobile cluster intended for assembling cars, trucks, vehicle engines and tires at the ‘Saudi Arabia Business Seminar' co-organized by JETRO and JTF in Tokyo a week ago. Dr. Bin Mahfouz advised the staff of (JETRO/JTF) in Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation and dealing with the media and the economic community that reflects positively on the development of Saudi Japanese economic cooperation and trade and investment dealing with all segments and categories of Saudi businessmen. Dr. Bin Mahfouz offered support to the Japanese side in enhancing Japanese investment in the Saudi market in various approaches, such as franchise, especially from small and medium-sized Japanese enterprises, in various sectors, like catering, seafood chains, restaurants, fast food and consumer products agencies. Mitsuka said Japanese companies were interested in deals, cooperation and partnership in the mega projects of new economic cities in Saudi Arabia.
