Japan seeks Qatar help for World Expo ’25 bid

Japan is seeking Qatar’s support for its bid for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, private sector leader Qatar Chamber said in a statement.Qatar Chamber director general Saleh bin Hamad al-Sharqi met with Shigeru Endo, the special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Expo 2025.Endo also led a delegation from Japan during the meeting, which was held at Qatar Chamber’s headquarters in the presence of private sector special envoy Masaki Iwakura and Daisuke Yamamoto, a consultant of the Japanese embassy.The meeting reviewed mechanisms to enhance co-operation relations between the private sectors of both countries.Endo said Japan is hoping that Qatar would support Osaka’s bid to host the global expo.Japan is competing with France, Russia, and Azerbaijan for the 2025 World Expo, he noted.Endo said 170 delegates representing member countries of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) will elect the host country of the 2025 World Expo in November this year.The expo would be an opportunity for Qatari companies and businessmen to build robust relations with the Japanese side and establish joint ventures and businesses in all sector, particularly in Osaka, which is a leading business centre in the country, the statement said.Al-Sharqi said the state of Qatar “is very keen on participating in international forums.”“Qatar had participated in Expo Astana 2017 in Kazakhstan and its pavilion won the first place and Gold Award among more than 100 pavilions of different participating countries,” he continued.Sharqi underlined the importance of fostering trade co-operation with Japan, noting that Qatar Chamber sought to enhance co-operation with Japanese chambers for the benefit of increasing the trade exchange between the two countries.In preparation for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar is implementing mega projects, which opens the way for Japanese companies to participate, he pointed out.Iwakura said the expo is a good opportunity for Qatar and Japan to promote economic and trade ties.