TOKYO: Tokyo Gov. Koike Yuriko will be part of the Future Funding Initiative in Riyadh on Tuesday as she embarks on a tour taking her to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Egypt.
The journey goals to spotlight the Japanese capital’s dynamic attraction, whereas additionally providing the governor the prospect to discover a area she believes is flourishing with new funding alternatives.
She is going to attend the FII’s ninth version to current Tokyo’s initiatives to determine itself as a number one hub for innovation and finance in Asia.
Koike additionally hopes to develop significant connections and foster a way of shared prosperity and mutual achieve for each Tokyo and the Arab nations.
She arrived within the UAE’s Abu Dhabi on Sunday and attended the 2025 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Discussion board, which runs from Oct. 27-29 and is hosted by Expo Metropolis Dubai on the Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Koike was a key speaker on Monday on the discussion board, which is held below the patronage of Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Protection Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.
Greater than 150 mayors, leaders and audio system from over 300 cities around the globe have been invited to the summit.
Koike’s itinerary additionally consists of Jeddah, Kuwait Metropolis, and Giza in Egypt. The significance of this journey is underlined by her participation in worldwide conferences, speeches and discussions with governments and non-profit foundations.
“This area is presently attracting international consideration for its financial development and funding alternatives,” the governor informed Arab Information Japan. “By way of this journey, I’ll work to reinforce Tokyo’s presence as a number one international metropolis, whereas making use of the insights gained from worldwide city collaboration with the administration of the Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities.”
Koike can be accompanied by Takahashi Yoichi, the famend manga artist behind Captain Tsubasa (often known as Captain Majid within the Arab area). He’ll contribute to the cultural trade side of the journey, utilizing his affect and artwork to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding between Japan and the Arab area.
The tour will embody Saudi Arabia’s second-largest metropolis, Jeddah, when the governor will trade concepts with native authorities officers.
“Collectively, we’ll discover alternatives for inter-city collaboration in areas corresponding to financial and industrial improvement,” she mentioned, emphasizing the potential for mutual development and collaboration.
Koike will arrive in Kuwait on Oct. 29, the place she is going to meet with authorities officers to debate tackling widespread challenges throughout industries, startups and girls’s empowerment.
“We intention to trade views on potential future collaboration between our cities and inside worldwide networks, fostering partnerships amongst cities dedicated to sustainable development,” she mentioned.
The governor usually visits Cairo, the place she attended college, and this 12 months marks the thirty fifth anniversary of the friendship metropolis settlement between the Cairo governorate and the Japanese capital.
“On the invitation of the Egyptian authorities, I’m honored to attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza,” Koike mentioned. “I hope the cultural packages and different occasions featured within the ceremony will function an inspiration for advancing Tokyo’s initiatives.”
She added: “To all my pricey pals throughout the Arab area, thanks a lot for the beneficiant invites to participate in such significant conferences and visits. All through human historical past, this area has been buffeted by the storms of civilization, weathering the rise and fall of empires and dynasties. Consequently, I consider it has cultivated a wealthy variety of cultures and a profound knowledge for navigating change — qualities which might be really distinctive amongst world areas.
“Whereas learning at college in Egypt, I encountered a distinct tradition and realized the significance of embracing variations. That have has been a terrific supply of power as I’ve confronted varied challenges as governor. The Arab persons are pricey pals to me, and I consider this go to will additional deepen the bonds between Tokyo and the Arab world.”
The governor’s tour, which started on Oct 26, will finish on Nov. 3 when she heads again to Tokyo.
