Middle East
Japan-Kuwait Relations (Basic Data)
November 11, 2015
Basic Data
Diplomatic Relations:
- Established in December 1961
Japanese Nationals:
- 172 (as of Oct. 2014)
Trade with Japan (in US Dollars, 2014 IMF):
- Exports: $12,386 million (crude oil, petroleum products)
- Imports: $1,891 million (motor vehicle, steel, machinery, electric equipment)
Japan's Economic Cooperation （total amount until the year 1998）:
- Grants: 294 million Yen
- Technical cooperation: 935 million Yen
VIP Visits
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Minister of Environment Yuriko Koike Committee on Middle Eastern Affairs, House of Representatives State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa Minister of State for Defense Yoshinori Ohno Secretary General, Liberal Democratic Party, Tsutomu Takebe, Secretary General, New Komeito Tetsuzo Fuyushiba |
| 2005 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Keishiro Fukushima Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai Minister of State for Defense Fukushiro Nukaga |
| 2006 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso Committee on Middle Eastern Affairs, House of Representatives Minister of State for Defense Fukushiro Nukaga、 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda Senior Vice-Minister for defence Taro Kimura Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso |
| 2007 | Special Advisor for the Prime Minister Yuriko Koike Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Special Committee on terrorism and Iraq, House of Representatives |
| 2008 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Osamu Uno State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Itsunori Onodera Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Ichiro Miyashita Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Hiroshi Okuda Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Akinori Eto Security Committee, House of Representatives Minister of Finance Fukushiro Nukaga |
| 2009 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Shibayama |
| 2011 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Kikuta Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Hamada Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Joe Nakano |
| 2012 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Joe Nakano Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Naoki Kazama |
| 2013 | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe |
| 2014 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takao Makino Member of the House of Representatives, Liberal Democratic Party, Yuriko Koike Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama Director, Foreign Affairs Division, Liberal Democratic Party, Kenya Akiba State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yosuke Takagi |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Sabah Al Salem Al-Sabah Minister of Energy H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahd Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Taweel First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense H.E. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah |
| 2005 | Sheikha Hussa Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah |
| 2006 | Special Adviser of H.H. the Amir of Kuwait H.E. Shaikh Mohammed Al-Khaled M.Al-Sabah Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Ismael Khudor Al-Shatti |
| 2007 | Chancellor to the Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Sheikh Salem Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League Founder and President of the Kuwaiti Voluntary Committee H.E. Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2008 | Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Chairman of Rules Committee & Member of Executive Board, Olympic Council of Asia H.E. Shaikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Member of the International Olympic Council H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Member of the International Olympic Council H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2009 | First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense H.E. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah |
| 2010 | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah Advisor to the Amir Diwan H.E. Khaled Yousef Abdul-Aziz Al-Fellej |
| 2011 | Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs H.E. Mr. Abdul Wahhab Al Haroon Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor H.E. Mr. Mohammad Mohsen Al-Afashi |
| 2012 | Amir, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2013 | Advisor to the Amir Diwan H.E.Mr.Mohammad Abdullah Abbas Abo Al-Hassan |
| 2014 | Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister of Planning and Development H.E. Mrs. Hind Sabeeh Barrak Al-Sabah |
| 2015 | Director General Kuwait Direct Investment Authority H.E. Sheikh Dr. Misaal Al-Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Bader Hamad Al-Eisa |
Recent Trends
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, paid an Official Visit as State Guest to Japan in March 2012. During his stay in Japan, the Amir was received in Imperial Audience by His Majesty the Emperor. Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with the Amir.
The Convention between Japan and the State of Kuwait for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, the Agreement between Japan and the State of Kuwait for the Promotion and Protection of Investment entered into force in June, 2013, January, 2014 respectively.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Kuwait in August 2013. During his stay, he was received by His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, acting Amir and Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, and hold a meeting with His Excellency Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait. The two sides shared the view that they would further cooperate in many fields including not only energy, but also politics, security, economics, education, agriculture and health. They also decided to establish a “Comprehensive Partnership”.