UAE-Japan trade at Dhs387 billion in 2018

Sajjad Ahmad, Gulf Today

The UAE is one of the largest trade partner of Japn in the region and the trade exchange between the two countries valued at Dhs387 billion in 2018, said Akima Umezawa - Consul General of Japan in Dubai.

 He revealed this during the launch of  Japanese rice flour for the first time in the UAE market.

He said, “Japan’s rice has brought abundance and health to the lives of Japanese people. It is the pride of the nation and is exported to the UAE to bring quality you can trust and a difference you can taste.”

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) addressed its will to increase the export of Japanese rice and its products in the region as well as introduce Japanese rice flour for the first time in the UAE available at KOBEYa located in Wasl Vita Mall, Dubai.

While Japanese rice isn’t new to the market, Japanese rice flour is bringing on a new era to the rice market and creating a new addition to the Japanese food culture exclusively for Japanese food lovers, gluten intolerants and health enthusiasts.

With over 200 Japanese restaurants in the UAE, many are not aware of the difference between authentic Japanese rice in comparison to other countries.

Only a few select top Japanese Restaurants in the UAE use Japan’s authentic rice such as Tomo, Kohantei, Hoseki and KOBEYa.

Masami Ando, Managing Director, JETRO – Middle East said, “UAE imports approximately 1 million tonnes of all types of rice every year with the highest imports from India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. Followed by United States, Egypt and Australia. In our efforts to increase the export of Japanese rice and its products in the region, JETRO has tied up with KOBEYa, UAE’s first gluten free Japanese and Far Eastern café offering authentic Japanese rice, rice flour and confectionary retail products from Japan such as cookies, tea, snacks and much more.