GCC-JAPAN BILATERAL TRADE AT US$120 BLN IN 2007

DUBAI, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Bilateral trade between the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) and Japan surged by 7.6 percent to US$120 billion (US$1=RM3.50) in
2007 supported by increased exports to, and imports from the six-member GCC.

Japan's exports to the GCC grew by 37.5 percent to US$21.5 billion last
year, compared with US$15.6 billion in 2006.

According to a statement, the high rate of growth in exports was attributed
to a surge in the export of machinery and equipment, including transport
equipment.

"The fast and unprecedented infrastructure developments taking place across
the GCC countries, supported by high oil income, has boosted the demand for
civil engineering and construction machinery as well as electrical machinery,"
it said.

The resultant population growth in these countries had also contributed to
an increase in the export of consumer goods, such as electric and electronic
appliances and textiles.

According to the statement, Japan's imports, the dominant portion of the
bilateral trade, grew by 2.7 percent to US$98.5 billion in 2007, compared with
US$95.9 billion in 2006.

"This low rate of growth in Japan's imports from the GCC was mainly
attributed to the decrease in the volume of crude oils that Japan imported from
the GCC countries during 2007," it added.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United
Arab Emirates.
-- BERNAMA