Ambassador Naoto Hisajima with Expo 2025 mascot “Myaku-Myaku” during the press conference. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: For over half a century, Qatar and Japan have cultivated a strong and enduring relationship which has contributed to economic growth and prosperity in both the countries. The partnership, historically underpinned by trade and energy links, is now also growing in areas such as tourism, culture, education, new technologies and defence.
“Since 1990, Japanese companies have contributed to the full-scale construction of LNG plants in Qatar, and Qatar’s reliable supply of LNG and oil has been instrumental in supporting Japan’s economic growth,” said Japan’s new Ambassador in Doha, H E Naoto Hisajima.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the celebration of birthday of H M the Emperor of Japan, Ambassador Hisajima said: “Japan highly appreciates and commends Qatar’s invaluable and tireless efforts as a mediator to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of the hostages. It is extremely important that the agreement on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release will be implemented steadily and in good faith and that the urgent Gaza humanitarian crisis remains essential. Japan wishes to work together closely with Qatar and other countries in the region on establishment of a two-state solution and long-term regional peace and stability.”
He also praised Qatar’s “pivotal role” for advancing the Gulf cooperation. “The role of the GCC members in various fields in the international arena, including politics and economics, is becoming increasingly important, and I think there is potential for both sides to greatly benefit by combining the strengths of both the GCC and Japan.” Qatar and Japan have also launched a strategic dialogue, third round of which will take place in Doha. Japan was the first buyer of Qatar’s LNG and helped launch the gas industry. “Since then, Qatar has provided a stable supply of gas and helped Japan with additional supplies when Japan was in difficulty after the Great East Earthquake in 2011. We have a half-century history of supporting each other, and that long and deep relationship stands out from that of other countries.”
Ambassador Hisajima said bilateral trade volume stood at $7.7bn in 2024. Qatar’s exports to Japan were recorded at $6.1bn and imports from Japan at $1.6bn. “It is expected that Japan will need LNG to meet its growing demand for electricity due to the increase in data centers and other factors, and I hope that trade volume will increase in line with Qatar’s increased LNG production.”
Beyond energy, the ties have huge potential to grow in other areas. For example, the envoy said, Japanese companies are particularly interested in the healthcare sector in Qatar. “Japan is promoting the foreign investment in the construction of semiconductor factories for instance, and there are investment opportunities in such large-scale projects.”
Ambassador Hisajima also highlighted collaborations and Japanese expertise in carbon capture and storage. He said Japan is working to commercialise a hydrogen supply chain by 2030, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. A consortium led by a Japanese company has won the bid for a new desalination plant (IWPP) project in Qatar. The construction is about to begin and is scheduled to be completed in 2029.
With increased air links and a visa waiver programme for Qatari nationals, tourism and people-to-people exchanges are also on the rise. A total of 52,753 Japanese visited Qatar over the past three years (2022-2024), while 3,239 Qatari nationals visited Japan in 2023, up from pre-covid level of 2,495 in 2019. The number of visas issued to expat residents of Qatar traveling to Japan is also increasing, the embassy said. Security and defence is another area of increased Qatar-Japan ties. “We highly regard Qatar’s role in maintaining stability in the region and I truly look forward to further strengthen our security cooperation in the future,” the Ambassador said.
