United Arab Emirates Economy Minister Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri gave an exclusive interview to Nippon TV on December 19.  

His country started negotiations for a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan.  

S/ Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Economy Minister:  

Al-Marri said that he himself had been familiar with Japanese animation such as "Captain Tsubasa" since childhood and expressed his expectations for the further expansion of Japanese content such as animation and games in the UAE. 

He also said that the UAE's creative industry accounts for about 5% of the country's GDP, and he expressed confidence that talented people can cooperate with Japan. 

With inbound tourism on the rise, the minister emphasized that simplifying the visa application process for visiting Japan is essential for further expanding the country’s tourism industry.