# 10月5日（月）サウジとUAE アジア石油備蓄に協力へ、BYD 軽EV「ラッコ」を海外販売 - Show: ながら日経 - Published: 2026-10-04 - Canonical: https://podc.club/en/episode/1627014612_e4820a366938.html - Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NRBC1233325393.mp3 - Source: Edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. Not an official summary. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are set to join a Japan-led framework for Asian oil stockpiling, with Tokyo providing financial support and stockpiling technology. BYD has announced that the Rakko, its kei EV developed for the Japanese market, will go on sale overseas for the first time—starting in Sri Lanka and Macao. The 2026 Labor Economy White Paper, meanwhile, reveals that Japan's generative AI adoption rate stands at just 9.2%, less than half the OECD average, while the country's STEM workforce lags behind other G7 peers. ## What this episode answers ### What role will Japan play in the Asian oil stockpiling cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the UAE? Japan will provide financial support and stockpiling technology to facilitate cooperation between the two Gulf states, strengthening its own economic security through improved energy supply-chain support across Asia. ### Which countries or regions will the BYD Rakko launch in first as it enters overseas markets? Sales will begin in Sri Lanka and Macao, marking the first time the Rakko has been sold outside Japan. ### Why did Epson reverse its decision to end laser printer sales? Epson reversed its 2026 phase-out plan in response to strong requests from certain customers, and will continue selling monochrome models in Japan and Taiwan from 2027 onward. ### What does the 2026 Labor Economy White Paper say about Japan's generative AI adoption rate? Japan's generative AI adoption rate among companies is 9.2%, less than half the average for OECD member countries. ### How does Japan rank on STEM talent within the G7? Japan falls below the G7 average, roughly on par with Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States; Germany leads by a wide margin, followed by Canada. The UK, Italy, and the US all recorded significant growth in STEM university graduates between 2020 and 2023, giving them a more advanced talent-development trajectory than Japan. ## Article ## Japan Takes the Lead on Asian Oil Stockpiling with Saudi Arabia and the UAE A new framework is launching that will see Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates cooperate on oil stockpiling for Asia, with Japan playing a central facilitating role. Tokyo will provide financial assistance and share stockpiling technology to support cooperation between the two Gulf nations. Asia's energy procurement is tightly bound together through wide-ranging supply-chain links, and helping to secure that system is seen as directly reinforcing Japan's own economic security. ## BYD Launches Japan's Rakko EV Overseas for the First Time—Sri Lanka and Macao First Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD announced on October 4 that it would begin selling the Rakko (ラッコ), its kei-class EV developed for the Japanese domestic market, in international markets. The first countries to receive the model are Sri Lanka and Macao, making the Rakko the first Japan-originated BYD model to venture into overseas sales. ## Panasonic Subsidiary to Market Commercial Cooling in Europe Using Existing Heating Pipes A business unit under Panasonic Holdings is preparing to sell commercial cooling equipment in Europe that requires no large-scale construction for installation. The system retrofits cooling capability onto existing hot-water heating pipes, allowing hotels and office buildings to add air conditioning without overhauling their infrastructure. The move is aimed at opening up a new commercial market segment in Europe. ## German Chancellor Merz Visits Kyiv, Pledges Drones, Long-Range Weapons, and Power Plant Reconstruction German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv on October 4 and announced a set of concrete support measures for Ukraine. These include supplying attack drones, cooperating on the joint production of long-range weapons, and helping to rebuild power plants that have been damaged by Russian attacks. ## Epson Reverses Decision, Will Continue Laser Printer Sales Beyond 2027 Epson has decided to keep its laser printer lineup on the market after 2027. The company declared in 2022 that it would wind down laser printer sales by 2026, but strong requests from certain customers prompted a reversal of that plan. The continuation is limited to monochrome models sold in Japan and Taiwan. ## Personality Column: Japan's STEM Shortage and Where the Labor Economy White Paper Places the Country Monday host Tomura Noriko (戸村典子) devoted her column to the 2026 Labor Economy White Paper, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on September 30. Citing coverage in the Nikkei electronic edition, she highlighted that Japan's generative AI adoption rate among companies stands at 9.2%—less than half the average across OECD member countries. She then turned to a data point she found particularly striking: among G7 nations, Japan's share of STEM workers falls below the group average. Germany stands out as the clear leader, followed by Canada; Japan is roughly grouped with Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, but all three of those peers recorded sharp growth in STEM university graduates between 2020 and 2023, putting them on a more advanced talent-development trajectory than Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has already published projections estimating that Japan will face a shortfall of roughly 1.2 million STEM workers by fiscal 2040. Tomura cautioned that if current trends continue, that figure will shift from projection to reality. She also observed a gradual change underway: more humanities graduates are finding their way into STEM-adjacent roles such as data analyst and systems engineer positions. Even so, she argued that building the structures needed to properly cultivate the next generation of technical talent remains an urgent national priority. ## Takeaways - The Japan-led Saudi Arabia and UAE oil stockpiling framework is now launching, with Tokyo providing technical and financial support to strengthen Asia's energy security and its own economic resilience. - BYD's Rakko becomes the first Japan-developed model to go on sale overseas, with Sri Lanka and Macao as the launch markets. - The 2026 Labor Economy White Paper exposes Japan's 9.2% generative AI adoption rate and a projected shortfall of 1.2 million STEM workers by 2040, flagging a deepening talent crisis.