Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting Japan to improve Saudi Arabia's image and seek opportunities in the gaming sector [dc115943]. As part of his Vision 2030 transformation strategy, the crown prince has launched a multi-billion-dollar push into the gaming sector, including eSports and game development [dc115943]. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund holds around eight percent stake in Nintendo and plans to build a theme park based on Japan's 'Dragon Ball' manga franchise [dc115943]. The kingdom is also organizing an eSports World Cup to become the industry's premier global hub [dc115943].
The crown prince's visit to Japan highlights Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy and promote its gaming sector. By investing in the gaming industry, including eSports and game development, Saudi Arabia aims to become a major player in the global gaming market. The crown prince's visit also signifies the importance of Japan as an attractive destination for Saudi investments, given its status as the third biggest gaming market in the world [dc115943].
However, campaigners have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and called on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to address the issue [dc115943]. Despite the economic opportunities, the crown prince's visit also brings attention to the ongoing human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia. It remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed during the visit [dc115943].
Saudi Arabia is the biggest oil exporter to Japan, fulfilling 40 percent of its total needs [dc115943]. The visit of the crown prince further strengthens the economic ties between the two countries. The crown prince is expected to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the emperor during his visit, further solidifying the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan [dc115943].