ISLAMABAD:
Japanese Embassy Public Affairs Head Katsunori Ashida has said that Pakistan could be the next destination for Japa
nese investors due to its low labour cost and potential market for business.
He said this while exchanging views with business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Co
mmerce and Industry (ICCI). He said that the Japa
nese investors doing business in Pakistan were quite satisfied and more Japa
nese investors could co
me to Pakistan if the security situation wa
s further improved. While talking about the free trade agreement between Pakistan and
Japan, he said that FTA should be equally beneficial for both countries and should not give undue advantage to any one party.
He said that
Japan was ready to participate in CPEC if it proved beneficial for both Pakistan and
Japan. He said that Pakistani mangoes were getting popular in
Japan and added that Pakistani businessmen should study the
Japanese market to get better penetration in it.
Katsunori Ashida that
Japanese government would provide a grant of Rs 453 million for installing a ‘face recognition system’ at major international airports in Pakistan to improve security situation.
He said that preparations were underway to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Pak-Japan diplomatic relations and many programmes were being planned for this purpose. He said visit of
Japanese students to Pakistan was being planned with their stay for few days in a Pakistani home so that they could get the better feel of Pakistani culture.
While speaking at the occasion, Islamabad Chamber of Co
mmerce and Industry Senior Vice President Khalid Malik said that both countries were enjoying good political relations that should be translated into growing trade and economic relations.
He said that many
Japanese companies were doing successful business in Pakistan and more should co
me to explore opportunities of investment and joint ventures.
Pakistani students were visiting
Japan through students exchange programs and stressed that
Japanese students should also visit Pakistan on regular basis, he said. It would help in understanding each other’s culture and market as well a
s further strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries, he added.
ICCI Vice President Tahir Ayub stressed that
Japan should enhance cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture sector as both countries have good potential to promote trade in this field. Syed Nadeem Mansoor, Raja Abdul Majeed, Saeed Ahmed Bhatti, Naveed Malik, Nasira Ali and others members of ICCI also spoke at the occasion.
