Japanese envoy visits MCCI

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata while addressing the members of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) here on Monday has said Japan and Pakistan are enjoying close and cordial bilateral relations since 1952. Japanese ambassador assured that we would consider visa policy and after consultation with Japanese government a flexible visa policy will be initiated to facilitate the business community of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) is playing instrumental role in promoting bilateral relations between Pakistan and Japan. He vowed to further strengthen trade ties between two countries aimed at increasing two-way trade volume. Hiroshi Inomata has said that Japanese business community is reluctant to invest in Pakistan owing to deteriorating law and order situation.
"Japan is the world's largest importer of textile but due to high rate of import duty in Pakistan Japan is not prioritising Pakistan for textile imports to Japan as neighbouring countries of Pakistan like Sri Lanka and India have low ratio of taxes. Japan is keen to enhance bilateral trade relations with Pakistan and will support every initiative in this regard," Japanese envoy said.
In his address of welcome, President MCCI Mian Iqbal Hassan underscored the need of broadening the scope of mutual co-operation by extending it to the areas of trade, investment, energy and infrastructure development including all other sectors of investment. He said that there is a wide gap between the imports and exports between Pakistan and Japan. Pakistan is importing goods worth US two billion dollars while it is exporting goods worth US 478 million dollars only.
He suggested that Japan should establish its commercial office in Multan because it is a hub of Southern Punjab. He said that Pak-Suzuki did not help local manufacturing industry in producing parts. It is still using Japanese part by 73.09 percent. There is no substantial progress, except sheet fabrication, unimportant parts. The MCCI president suggested that active engagements of Pakistan and Japan chambers which could act as resource based for exchanging information adding that exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions would also help in promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Japan. We are convinced that there is a wide scope for setting up joint ventures and business co-operation between Pakistan and Japan based companies, especially in the field of textile, energy, sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products and information technology, he added.