Middle East
Japan–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Trade and Investment Dialogue
June 10, 2026
On June 9, the first meeting of the Japan–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Trade and Investment Dialogue was held in online format.
- The meeting was attended, from the Japanese side, by representatives from relevant ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. From the GCC side, officials from the GCC Secretariat and representatives from the trade and investment authorities of GCC member states attended the meeting.
- The participants shared their respective efforts to promote trade and investment between Japan and the GCC countries and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen trade and investment relations in the future.
- From the Japanese side, Mr. SUGAYA Masamichi, Director of the Second Middle East Division, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that, in light of the current situation in the Middle East, the need to ensure free and safe navigation and to strengthen the resilience of supply chains for energy and other critical materials is consistent with the priority areas of the Updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” initiative announced by Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan in May this year. He expressed Japan’s desire to further advance cooperation with GCC countries toward the realization of FOIP.
- Both sides concurred on continuing this dialogue framework and to further deepen cooperation to promote trade and investment between Japan and the GCC countries.