Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has partnered with Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group to help up to 6,000 Japanese startups access its innovation ecosystem and expand into Middle East, Africa and South Asia markets.
According to the announcement, eligible Mizuho clients will gain access to DIFC Innovation Hub, which provides market-entry and soft-landing support. They will also be able to use Ignyte, DIFC’s digital innovation platform, for investor and corporate connections, mentorship and programmes supporting international growth.
The partnership is intended to strengthen economic ties between the UAE and Japan while supporting work in artificial intelligence, fintech innovation, digital transformation and cross-border finance.
DIFC Innovation Hub includes more than 1,300 active technology and innovation companies across areas such as fintech, AI, Web3 and sustainability. The centre also hosts the UAE’s only Japanese financial ecosystem, comprising 19 financial services firms with a combined workforce of 560 people.
The announcement follows several years of financial-sector cooperation between the two countries. In 2018, the Dubai Financial Services Authority and Japan’s Financial Services Agency signed a cooperation framework, while a separate 2012 agreement focused on commodity derivatives markets.
Source: Zawya
