Automobile, fisheries and IT: Japan, Sindh govt agree to work together

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister and Japanese ambassador in Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda agreed to work together for the development of fisheries, automobile and IT-based youth exchange programmes from next year.

This decision was taken in the meeting held between the two here at the CM House on Monday.

The chief minister said that there were a lot of investment opportunities for Japanese investors in Sindh. “The provincial government encourages investment in the province directly or on the Public Private Partnership mode,” he said.

The visiting envoy of Japan said that they have selected automobile, fisheries and youth exchange programmes in IT sectors.

The chief minister said that his government was working to develop the fisheries sector on international standards. “We have best jetties and large fishermen settlements,” he said and added it would be a great opportunity if Japanese investors come over to invest in the sector and use the latest technologies to further flourishing the fisheries sector.

“If Japanese investors want to invest on their own the government would not only welcome them but extend them complete support and if they intend the provincial government should become their partner, we would do it on PPP mode,” he said.

The visiting envoy also showed his interest in establishment of Japanese automobile in Karachi or at a nearby area. The chief minister said that his government would welcome the investment. “Japanese automobile industry would have a vast market in the region if it is established here,” Murad Ali shah said and added we have sea routes to export the automobiles to the nearby countries apart from meeting the national requirement.

The third sector on which the host and the guest agreed to chalk out a detailed programme was the exchange of skilled youth packages under which the IT students of different universities of the province would acquire necessary training in Japan. “This programme would generate highly skilled youth for development of the IT industry in both the countries,” Shah said.

The chief minister directed his Principal Secretary to develop coordination between the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad and the provincial Investment department to start official negotiations to materialise the projects.

Saudi Arabian Envoy: The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Saeed AlMalky called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here at CM House and discussed the matters of mutual interest.

They thanked Almighty Allah that the severity of Covid-19 was on the decline in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Italian Envoy: The Italian Ambassador in Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and discussed investment in tourism and road sectors.

The chief minister said that an Italian firm had constructed Super-Highway from Karachi to Jamshoro that was a state-of-the-art road built in around 1965. He urged the ambassador to invite his country’s investors on behalf of his government to visit him and discuss the road and bridge sector projects.

The chief minister presented his memento, Sindhi ajrak and caps to the visiting guests and thanked them for the call on.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021