Report on "Japan-Saudi Arabia Collaboration Roundtable" Hosted by Uhuru

Uhuru Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takashi Sonoda, hereinafter referred to as Uhuru) is pleased to announce that on June 23, 2026 (Tue), it co-hosted the "Japan-Saudi Arabia Collaboration Roundtable" with the Graduate School of Education Technology. This event was held as a small-group study session to consider new collaboration possibilities between Japan and Saudi Arabia from the perspectives of policy, business, and the field, with an eye toward the Osaka-Kansai Expo and the 2030 Riyadh Expo.

Scene from the "Japan-Saudi Arabia Collaboration Roundtable"

On the day, a representative from the Middle East and Africa Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Commerce and Information Policy Bureau was invited to present an overview of Saudi Arabia's national strategy "Saudi Vision 2030," the "Japan-Saudi Vision 2030" promoted by both governments, and the Japanese government's initiatives for the 2030 Riyadh Expo. Additionally, Ms. Viera Inagaki, who served as an interpreter at the Saudi Arabian Pavilion of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, gave a lecture on the insights gained through her involvement in event planning and operations support at the pavilion, and important perspectives for Japanese companies collaborating with Saudi Arabia.

Diverse participants from companies, local governments, and educational institutions gathered, and following the lectures, there was a lively Q&A session and networking on themes such as entry into the Saudi Arabian market, investment, smart cities, AI, and the Riyadh Expo.

Opening Remarks

Takashi Sonoda, President & CEO of Uhuru

At the beginning of the event, Uhuru President & CEO Takashi Sonoda explained the background of the event. Uhuru has been communicating the potential for Japan-Saudi collaboration in the tourism, entertainment, sports, and cultural industries through programs to promote research and development with Saudi Arabian national research institutions and participation in Japan-Saudi related events at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Sonoda introduced that this event was planned as a venue for continuous exchange among government and private sector stakeholders, rather than a one-off opportunity, with the 2030 Riyadh Expo in mind.

Lecture: "Latest Trends in Saudi Arabia and Japan-Saudi Arabia Collaboration"

Ms. Sato Goto, Middle East and Africa Division, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Ms. Sato Goto from the Middle East and Africa Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Trade Policy Bureau provided an overview of Saudi Arabia's national reform strategy, "Saudi Vision 2030," and bilateral initiatives, including the "Japan-Saudi Vision 2030," promoted by the Japanese government with the Saudi Arabian government.

The lecture explained that cooperation between Japan and Saudi Arabia is progressing in a wide range of fields, including tourism, AI, space, smart cities, and know-how transfer for expo operations, and that the 2030 Riyadh Expo will be an important opportunity to showcase the country's national strategy to the world. Furthermore, as an expectation for Japanese companies considering future expansion into the region, it was indicated that co-creation aligned with Saudi Arabia's national vision is important, rather than simply providing technology.

Lecture: "Collaboration with Saudi Arabia Seen from the Saudi Arabian Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo"

Ms. Viera Inagaki, Interpreter and Event Planning/Operations Staff for the Saudi Arabian Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo

Ms. Viera Inagaki, who served as an interpreter and was involved in event planning and operations for the Saudi Arabian Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, shared practical perspectives and cultural characteristics to emphasize when collaborating with Saudi Arabia, based on her approximately seven months of on-site experience.

The lecture shared the rapid changes and current state of Saudi Arabia felt on-site, including the sophisticated project management involving specialized personnel from around the world alongside Saudi Arabian stakeholders, high quality standards, and an unimaginable scale of operations. It also highlighted the importance for Japanese companies to "not assume their own common sense as a premise," "deepen their understanding of the other party's culture and values," and "propose with an awareness of points of contact with Saudi Vision 2030" when conducting business.

Scene from the "Japan-Saudi Arabia Collaboration Roundtable"

Following the lectures, numerous questions were received on themes such as Japanese companies' expansion into Saudi Arabia, investment opportunities, smart cities, AI, infrastructure development, and the Riyadh Expo. In addition, during networking among participants, information was exchanged across industries and positions, and lively discussions were held regarding future collaborations and new business possibilities.

Uhuru has been building networks with government-related organizations and companies in Saudi Arabia. In 2023, it joined the "FII (Future Investment Initiative) Institute," an international organization established by a Saudi Arabian government fund, and continues to engage in dialogue with local government officials and companies regarding the potential for data and AI utilization in the Riyadh Expo and in the tourism and entertainment sectors. Moving forward, Uhuru will leverage its expertise and track record in supporting DX promotion across various industries to advance business in the Saudi Arabian market, and in anticipation of the 2030 Riyadh Expo, will also work on collaborations with Japanese companies, local governments, and educational institutions to contribute to the creation of new value.

About Uhuru Inc. https://uhuru.co.jp/

Uhuru's philosophy is to "create a sustainable society through technology and free thinking," and it supports and promotes DX (Digital Transformation) and data utilization for companies and society. It provides one-stop services from edge to cloud, including the introduction and operation of cloud services, consulting, and system development, along with its own products and solutions. Beyond corporate activities, to realize DX in regions and industries, it is also engaged in R&D in the IoT x blockchain domain while making recommendations for the introduction and standardization of mechanisms for reliable data distribution necessary for smart cities and smart supply chains.