The Qatar-Japan Business Forum was held in Doha today, with the aim to further strengthen relations between the two countries and coinciding with the official visit to Qatar of HE Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. Abe delivered the keynote address at the opening session of the event, and this was followed by a speech from HE Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, representing the government of the State of Qatar. The event was organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC). Over 500 Qatari and Japanese participants, consisting of senior ministry officials, the top management of companies and other delegates representing the business sector and the academe, attended the one-day event, which was held at the Sheraton Doha. The Qatar-Japan Business Forum featured presentations focusing on the partnership between the two countries in the energy sector, Japans contribution to infrastructure development in Qatar, as well as on healthcare, food security and human resource development. The participants from Qatar included representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Business and Trade, Ministry of Finance, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Qatar Chamber, Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas, Qatar Foundation, RasGas, Qatar University, Hamad Medical Corporation, Muntajat and many other companies. The Japanese speakers, on the other hand, came from JETRO, the Japan Business Federation, Waseda University, Chubu Electric Power Company, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp., Marubeni Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Eisai Co. Ltd., Osaka University, Nihon Kohden Corporation, and the Japan Greenhouse Horticulture Association. According to the World Trade Atlas, Japan is Qatars largest trading partner, with Japanese exports to Qatar amounting to USD 1.5 billion in 2012 while Japanese imports from Qatar reached USD 35.9 billion that same year. The Trade Statistics of Japan points out that Qatar is the largest exporter of gas to Japan, with deliveries amounting to 15.5 million tons per year in 2012, and it is also the third largest exporter of crude oil, supplying about 394,000 barrels of oil per day to Japan in  2012. Qatar-Japan Business Forum Strengthens Bilateral Ties The Qatar-Japan Business Forum held here Wednesday further strengthened the bilateral relations between the two countries. The Forum coincided with the official visit to Qatar of HE the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe who delivered the keynote address at the opening session of the event, the Communications Department of Qatar Petroleum (QP) said in a media statement today. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, representing the Government of the State of Qatar, also delivered a speech at the Forum, the QP statement said. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Co-operation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) organized the event. Over 500 Qatari and Japanese participants, comprising senior ministry officials, the top management of companies and other delegates representing the business sector and the academe, attended the one-day event, which was held at the Sheraton Doha. The Qatar-Japan Business Forum featured presentations focusing on the partnership between the two countries in the energy sector, Japan\'s contribution to infrastructure development in Qatar, as well as on healthcare, food security and human resource development. The participants from Qatar included representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Business and Trade, Ministry of Finance, the Public Works Authority (Ashgal), the Qatar Chamber, Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas, Qatar Foundation, RasGas, Qatar University, Hamad Medical Corporation, Muntajat and many other companies. The Japanese speakers were from JETRO, the Japan Business Federation, Waseda University, Chubu Electric Power Company, JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Corp., Marubeni Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Eisai Co. Ltd., Osaka University, Nihon Kohden Corporation, and the Japan Greenhouse Horticulture Association. According to the World Trade Atlas, Japan is Qatar\'s largest trading partner, with Japanese exports to Qatar amounting to US $1.5 Billion in 2012 while Japanese imports from Qatar reached US $35.9 Billion that same year, QP said. The trade statistics of Japan show that Qatar is the largest exporter of gas to Japan, with deliveries amounting to 15.5 million tons per year in 2012, and it is also the third largest exporter of crude oil, supplying about 394,000 barrels of oil per day to Japan in 2012, QP concluded.