Overview

Japan is dependent in large part on the Middle East for its oil, natural gas and other energy resources. This dependence makes peace and stability in the Middle East, which faces a wide range of destabilizing factors, a very vital issue to Japan. Serving as a lifeline for Japan, the Middle East is a focus for the Japanese government and private individuals when it comes to exchanges on energy resources and the business sector. There are still calls, however, to develop broader, more multifaceted ties with the region, and the Sasakawa Middle East Islam Fund (SMEIF) believes that it is important to respond, not only by supporting joint initiatives by government and private entities to facilitate connections between Japan and Middle Eastern countries, but also by promoting stability and continuous development in the Middle East through an approach that is unique to Japan.

Established as part of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the SMEIF aims to contribute actively as a private foundation to establishing peace in the Middle East and to present the face of Japan in this region by hosting activities at the individual level. The SMEIF works to reach these goals through projects that promote exchange between Japan and the Middle East.