Reuters file photo used for representation only. Photo credit: REUTERS/Ju-min Park/File Photo
As the visa exemption agreement between Qatar and Japan nears implementation, the Embassy of Japan has recorded a notable increase in visa applications from Qatar since the beginning of the year.
Speaking to the media on the occasion of the birthday of the Emperor of Japan, the Ambassador of Japan to Qatar, H E Satoshi Maeda, stressed that it is his duty to promote mutual visits between Japan and Qatar, not only one-way visits to Japan. He added that the visa exemption policy has contributed to the rise in applications, but it is not the sole factor.
Around 550 Japanese citizens are residents in Qatar as of February 2023, the envoy said.
Qatar authorities announced that the agreement would take effect on April 2, 2023. Maeda said the Japanese authorities have yet to officially announce the date the agreement takes effect.
According to Maeda, Japan National Tourism Organization opened a Middle East office in Dubai in 2021 to provide information on halal offerings and other religion-related requests to those interested in visiting Japan. The envoy disclosed that an estimated 6,000 Japanese nationals visited Qatar during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“I am greatly pleased that the visa exemption agreement was finally concluded during the Strategic Dialogue, following the tremendous long-term efforts by both Japanese and Qatari authorities. The agreement is based on a pre-registration system of passports. However, it is expected to dramatically simplify the existing procedure and waive processing fees for those Qatari citizens wishing to travel to Japan,” Maeda said.
Ambassador of Japan to Qatar, H E Satoshi Maeda
“This year, we are already receiving significantly more visa applications to our embassy. In this respect, the agreement would further positively impact the inbound of Qatari nationals to Japan, together with the easing of COVID-19 prevention measures,” he added.
Speaking on Qatar-Japan relations, Maeda highlighted the crucial partnership in LNG and trade. He added that Japan-Qatar relations should not be limited to LNG trade in the future, emphasising that Japan is committed to diversifying relations mutually beneficial to both countries and overlaps with Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Indeed, Japan became the first importer of Qatar’s LNG export in 1997. Since then, the two countries have been fostering mutually-benefit primarily in the LNG sector. However, to further strengthen Japan-Qatar ties, Japan aims to expand its cooperation with Qatar beyond LNG trade, fostering multi-sectoral cooperation encompassing new and renewable energies, culture, science & technology, national security, academic exchange, and human resource development,” he added.
Maeda also disclosed that export to Qatar in 2022 reached around $1.23bn, up from $0.76bn in 2021. On the other hand, imports from Qatar in 2022 stood at about $13.05bn, up from about $9.57bn in 2021.
According to the ambassador, Japan’s car export to Qatar in 2022 reached 21,825 cars, up since 2020, while the number of visits by Japanese companies to Qatar keeps rising. He added that more Japanese companies are interested in wastewater treatment and waste power generation.
Commenting on the political relations between both countries, Maeda said the visits of top officials on both sides indicate how important the ties are.
He highlighted the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani’s visit to Japan during the Second Japan-Qatar Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Japan’s Foreign Minister H E Yoshimasa Hayashi, where he met with Prime Minister H E Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
