Japanese firms promote products in Saudi Arabia

Representatives from more than 60 Japanese firms have taken part in a business forum in Saudi Arabia.

Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and Saudi Arabian Energy and Industry Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih also attended the forum in Riyadh on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify industry to end its reliance on oil. It is also promoting reforms, including the end of a ban on driving by women and the scheduled lifting of a religious ban on movie theaters this year.

A Japanese toy maker used a screen to demonstrate an amusement facility where visitors become animation characters in a virtual reality setting.

An official from the company said the Saudi Arabian market for recreation will open and he thinks the company's new entertainment products will work well. He noted Saudi Arabia's growing population and said the company hopes to strengthen its sales pitch.

Renewable energy technology was also on show. One company introduced a robot that can autonomously clean solar power panels.

The Saudi Arabian minister told reporters that Japanese innovation is impressive and that Japan always reinvents itself. He noted his country's efforts to turn into a regional manufacturing and logistics hub and expressed his hope for more Japanese investment.

Source: NHK World