Japan's finance minister to visit oil-rich nations

Japan's finance minister said Tuesday he would visit the Middle East and Central Asia to strengthen ties with oil exporters and seek investment in Asia's largest economy.
"I would like to deepen dialogue with exporters of resources and build a cooperative partnership," Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters ahead of his departure the same day to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Uzbekistan.
Nukaga also said he would seek investment in Japan from oil-rich countries during a six-day trip because they "possess abundant funds due to the surge in oil prices."
Government-controlled Middle East investment funds have been ploughing petrodollars into foreign companies.
One fund owned by the government of Dubai, one of seven members of the United Arab Emirates, last year bought a "substantial" stake in Sony Corp.
Nukaga will be accompanied on the trip by executives from five major banks or brokerage firms, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, Daiwa Securities, Mizuho Corporate Bank and Nomura Asset Management.