SIALKOT: Ambassador of Japan in Pakistan Hirsohi Inomata has said that Japan was very keen to boost trade ties with Pakistan.
He stressed the need for making sincere efforts to promote the “hurdle-free” bilateral trade between Pakistan and Japan, besides, offering full cooperation in finding the chances and opportunities of promoting the mutual trade between Pakistan and Japan through assuring the easy access of Sialkot exporters to the international Japanese markets.
He said that the Japan was making the pivotal role of both JICA and JETRO for business promotion between Pakistan and Japan, besides, developing business to business contacts between the businessmen of both countries. He stated this while addressing an important meeting of Sialkot business community held at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Thursday.
The Central Chairman of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ejaz A Khokhar, SCCI President Fazal Jillani, SVP Mir Alamgir Meyer, VP Malik Naseer Ahmed, Mian Mohsin Gull, Chairman Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA) Muhammad Younas and others were also present on this occasion.
The Japanese Ambassador added that the Japan was intending to develop the mutual trade ties with Pakistan, saying that the Japan would provide full technical assistance and guidance for modernizing the Sialkot’s export industries.
Hiroshi Inomata added that Japan was focusing on broadening the scope of mutual cooperation by extending it to the areas of trade, investment, energy and infrastructure development with Pakistan. He said that the time was high for further strengthening the mutual trade ties between Pakistan and Japan.
Japanese Envoy said that there was a huge scope for establishing joint ventures and business cooperation between Japan and Sialkot based companies especially in the field of Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments, Leather Products and Information Technology. Japanese Ambassador Mr. Hiroshi Inomata discussed in details the matters of mutual interest with Sialkot business community. On this occasion, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fazal Jillani said that Japanese Ambassador’s visit to SCCI would help in expansion of bilateral trade between Japan and Pakistan by opening new avenues of economic and trade cooperation. Undoubtedly, promotion of trade depends on better coordination, interaction, and understanding among business communities of the two countries.
The SCCI President added that Japan had ever been at the forefront whenever Pakistan was in need. He hoped that the relations between the two countries would further strengthen, flourishing on mutual trust and collaboration of private sector.
Fazal Jillani revealed that Japan was the world’s third-largest economy, having achieved remarkable growth in second half of the 20th Century. Japan was an important trading partner of Pakistan. However, the trade volume between the two countries is far below the potential. Despite having immense prospects of growth, the trade balance remains in the favor of Japan.
SCCI President emphasized that it was high time for the two countries to focus on broadening the scope of mutual cooperation by extending it to the areas of trade, investment, energy and infrastructure development including all other sectors of interest. To make progress in this regard, SCCI President suggested for active engagements of the Japan and Pakistan Chambers, which could act as resource base for exchanging information. Exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions would also help in promoting bilateral trade.
Earlier, talking to the Sialkot based leading exporters during his visit to some leading industrial units here today; the Japanese Ambassador said that Japan will ensure the easy access of Sialkot based exporters to the international Japanese trade markets. He said that the exporters of Sialkot have a great potential to explore and capture the international trade markets of Japan by exporting their diversified traditional and non-traditional export products.
Japanese Ambassador assured Sialkot exporters to make all out sincere efforts for promoting the “soft image” of Pakistan globally to boost its economy, saying that there was a dire need of promoting the soft image of Pakistan after its war against terrorism.
