Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Assistant Secretary-General Mohieddin bin Yahya Hakami bade goodbye to the Japanese Representative of Japan Water Desk, Kyoji Nakano, at a reception recently.

The JCCI launched the Japan Water Desk in 2005 to support and facilitate investment mainly in water-related projects like desalination, sewage treatment and water reuse systems, and promote mutual partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Hakami also welcomed the new representative of Japan Water Desk in JCCI, Koji Muto, and wished him all success in his new position. He hoped that commercial and economic relations between the two countries would further grow with Muto's coming in. Muto noted that the Japan Water Desk was making available Japanese technologies in a host of water-related sectors including water reuse and sewage treatment to the specialized Saudi companies.

Nakano emphasized the great support the office had been getting from the JCCI, which enabled him to transfer Japanese know-how and expertise in water technology, and was positive that more partnerships and investment cooperation would be established in water, industrial and trading sectors between the two countries. Hakami presented a memento to Nakano on behalf of the JCCI.

The volume of trade between the Kingdom and Japan reached about SR 214 billion. Japan considers the Kingdom as its second strategic economic partner. Saudi Arabia considers Japan as the first country in its list of oil exporting nations. Twenty-four joint venture projects exist between the two countries. Within the Kingdom, they are active in infrastructure, industrial, trade and investment sectors. Several mutual agreements in investment, technology, water, electricity, taxation and education link the two countries.