Japanese envoy sees wide business scope in Sialkot

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Hiroshi Oe has said that there are wide scopes of establishing joint venture and collaboration between the business communities of Japan and Sialkot because many potential exists there in business fields.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday, he said the export of rice from Pakistan to Japan was a difficult job however Japan could help in extending agriculture technology for improving the quality and standard of rice crop in Pakistan.
Regarding setting up Japan-Sialkot forum, the Ambassador said that this matter could be considered, adding that a forum already functioning in Karachi that covered the whole Pakistan. The Japanese Ambassador assured that Japanese businessmen would be motivated to visit Sialkot to determine the business activities and discuss the possibilities of establishing business with their counterparts. It was heartening to note that women were working in factories, he added.
In his welcome address, SCCI President Naeem Anwar Qureshi said, "We are grateful to Japan for doubling economic assistance to Pakistan in 2007 and for participating in newly formed group "Friends of Pakistan". Japan is an important player for peace. Progress, co-operation and stability in the world and its role for assistance to developing countries and region under conflict are laudable," he said.
The SCCI President said that Japan should also contribute towards a solution of the energy crisis in Pakistan by providing its expertise and joining hands for setting up new power projects, conventional or non-conventional in the private sector.
It is encouraging that the two countries had developed regularised mechanism for bilateral consultation on various matters including the security dialogue, counter-terrorism talks and economic policy dialogue which was the manifestation of strength of co-operation and understanding on bilateral and global issues between Pakistan and Japan, he said.
Naeem further said that despite having immense potential of growth, the trade between the two countries was not encouraging, adding that in 2010 Pakistan exports to Japan were US 124 million dollar while imports were 1.58 billion dollars. There was an urgent need to create more linkages between private sectors of the two countries for enhancing bilateral trade, he said.
Naeem said there was an unlimited scope of expanding trade ties between Pakistan and Japan, adding that active engagements of Pakistani and Japanese chambers could act as resource base for exchanging information. Exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibition would also help in promoting bilateral trade, he added. The SCCI President said that visit of Japanese Ambassador to Sialkot would result in promoting a batter understanding and strengthening of mutual relations between business communities of the friendly countries.