• HSBC
Page navigation Browse related articles

Mizuho of Japan opens regional office at DIFC

  • United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, June 20 - 2007 at 15:10
  • PRESS RELEASE

Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. (Mizuho), a member of the Mizuho Financial Group of Japan, announced today that it has commenced its operation in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) as of 20 June, having been granted a license by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to operate as an authorised firm.

From its office in the DIFC, Mizuho will serve the governments, financial institutions, project sponsors, corporations and investors that comprise its regional client base.

Mizuho provides optimal solutions to the increasingly diverse and sophisticated needs of customers in the areas of finance and business strategy, focusing its efforts on serving major corporations, including listed firms; financial institutions and their group companies; public-sector entities; and overseas corporations, including subsidiaries of Japanese corporations.

Currently, Mizuho has representative offices in Bahrain and Iran, and has also been providing financial services to its customers in the region through Mizuho's London Branch. For Japanese clients, it has provided services through the Mizuho Desk at Mashreqbank. The opening of the DIFC branch will allow Mizuho to further expand its activities in this vital and fast-growing region.

Nasser Al Shaali, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Authority, said: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Mizuho to the rapidly growing DIFC family, which is now home to more than 400 member companies. As one of Japan's leading financial services providers, with an established presence in the region, we are confident that the opening of their new office here at the DIFC will enable Mizuho to move from strength to strength."

Yukio Otaka, Regional Head for the Middle East of Mizuho, said:

"The opening of our new office at the DIFC represents an important step in our strategy to globalise our business, especially in this region. We have been attracted to the DIFC by the rapid economic growth of the UAE, and particularly that of Dubai, with its increasing importance in the region as a centre for the Middle Eastern economy. We look forward to developing our business from Dubai and the DIFC."


The newly established regional office will provide various financial services, including corporate finance, project finance and trade finance. In addition, the DIFC office will act as an entry point for clients to access Mizuho Financial Group Companies, including securities and asset management firms.
Right to left: Nasser Al Shaali, CEO, DIFC Authority and Yukio Otaka, Regional Head for the Middle East of Mizuho. 
Right to left: Nasser Al Shaali, CEO, DIFC Authority and Yukio Otaka, Regional Head for the Middle East of Mizuho.
Article Options
Log in to request more information from DIFC

Notes and Media Contacts »

Media enquiries:

Amira Abdulla
Tel: +971 4 362 2433
Shaima Al Zarouni
Tel: +971 4 362 2432
Dubai International Financial Centre
Fax: +971 4 3622236

About the DIFC:

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centers of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services.

In just under two years, over 400 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.

The DIFC is made up of the following core bodies:

1. The DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Responsible for the Companies and Security Registries and attracting financial as well as non-financial institutions to set up in the DIFC. The DIFC Authority is also responsible for developing the financial services industry. (www.difc.ae)

2. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - An independent, unitary regulatory authority, responsible for the regulation of all DIFC operations. Its principle-based primary legislation is modeled on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime operates to standards that meet or exceed those in major financial centers. (www.dfsa.ae)

3. The DIFC Courts - An independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations, the courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters within the DIFC. The DIFC Courts system is especially designed to deal with all of sophisticated transactions that will be conducted within DIFC. The DIFC Court laws, based on the common law, not only sets out the jurisdiction of the court but also provides for a dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation, thus allowing for the independent administration of justice in the DIFC. ( www.difccourts.ae)

DIFC Investments- The creation of DIFC Investments will result in the allocation to it of all non public administration activities previously carried out by DIFC Authority. This will include amongst other things all commercial and other activities such as the operation and management of any current and future subsidiaries, the development of the centre's investment strategy and relevant policies and any other strategic investments or alliances which will further the goals and objectives of the Dubai International Financial Centre and contribute to the fulfillment of the Centre's vision. Some of the companies and organizations that DIFC Investments owns include:

1. The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) The DIFX is the region's first international financial exchange for equities, bonds, Islamic products, funds, index products and (subject to regulatory approval) derivatives. The target areas of the DIFX for seeking issuers include the Middle East and North Africa, as well as South Africa, Turkey and the Indian sub-continent. The regulator of the DIFX is the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The DIFX is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its owner is the DIFC Authority. (www.difx.ae)

2. Hawkamah- the first Institute for Corporate Governance in the region, has been established in partnership with a group of international institutions, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Dubai School of Government (DSG), Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Institute of Management Development (IMD). (www.hawkamah.org).

Disclaimer »

Articles in this section are primarily provided directly by the companies appearing or PR agencies which are solely responsible for the content. The companies concerned may use the above content on their respective web sites provided they link back to http://www.ameinfo.com

Any opinions, advice, statements, offers or other information expressed in this section of the AMEinfo.com Web site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited. AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or reliability of any material, advice, opinion or statement in this section of the AMEinfo.com Web site.

For details about submitting your stories, please read the guide - all content published is subject to our terms and conditions