ISLAMABAD: Japan Ambassador to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda has said he desires stronger economic relationship between the two countries and is keen to help build Pakistan’s export base to meet challenges.
“I wish to upgrade our economic relations with greater involvement of the public and private sector for the mutual benefit of both the countries,” said Ambassador Matsuda while addressing a reception hosted in honour of 10 Pakistani students.
The students were awarded the coveted MEXT scholarship by the government of Japan to help them pursue higher education in their respective fields.
Matsuda said he came to Pakistan with three goals, the first of which was the strengthening of economic ties.
He expressed his desire to further increase the quantum of trade between the two countries by involving public and private sectors for sustained commercial ties and for this purpose Japan was willing to work with Pakistan to boost its export competitiveness and diversification, besides strengthening its manufacturing base.
The ambassador; however, pointed to the several challenges, saying there is a need to work together to make Pakistan’s export sectors strong, particularly its agriculture, textiles and auto industry.
He observed that Pakistan, owing to its large population and location at the crossroads of Central Asia and Middle East, was a lucrative market for foreign investors and he desired to bring more Japanese investors to the country.
“We need to improve the domestic market and industries to make Pakistan a big export base,” the ambassador said.
Matsuda, who has recently arrived in Pakistan, said Japan would like to have a more robust political dialogue with Pakistan and would like to see a stronger relationship in academia between the two countries.
