An official delegation of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), comprising Keiichi Kimura, Director JETRO, Japan and Kaoru Shiraishi, Country Manager JETRO Pakistan, visited Punjab Board of Investment & Trade (PBIT). JETRO is official trade and investment promotion office of the Government of Japan working under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The JETRO team conducted electronic interview of Dr Sajid Yoosufani CEO, PBIT and his team on the retail consumer market in Punjab and the upcoming popular business and investment trends. The documentary on retail sector opportunities being filmed by JETRO will also include similar insights of the sector in Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka besides Pakistan. After finalisation, the documentary will be projected from the platform of JETRO amongst the prospecting investors in Japan.
Dr Yoosufani, CEO PBIT made the case of Punjab, very strongly and comprehensively and highlighted the lucrative and profitable opportunities for Japanese investors in the retail sector in Punjab. He said that with over 93 million consumers, and over half of it under 30 years of age, Punjab offers tremendous opportunities in retail sector presently.
Pakistan's retail industry is worth $42 billion & with the 18 million middle class where, an average consumer spends 42% of his income on food and with a sector growth rate of 7.3% per annum, retail sector is rising rapidly. The potential of various segments within the retail sector was amply demonstrated to the JETRO team, who would in turn convince the Japanese investors to choose Pakistan as their next business destination. Dr Sajid further added: "The provincial government is highly committed to the private sector development in Punjab and is offering a very pro-business environment accentuated with a positive policy framework to generate foreign and domestic investment and employment.