Sohail P. Ahmed, Chairman of PJBF, led a delegation of medium sized businesses of Pakistan to Japan. The forum had arranged match making appointments with their potential counterparts in Japan. The delegation was the second of its kind by PJBF. The first one went in March last year.
Members joining were from Indus Pharma, Nova Leather, GIA Associates, Al Hadeed, Muller and Phipps, Federal Engineering, PAPMPAK, Clifton Soccer and Mehmood Textile covering pharmaceutical, leather, plant & machinery, telecom, energy, electronics, sporting goods and textile sector.
The first day in Osaka B2B meetings were arranged by PJBF, which were followed up the next day by B2B meetings arranged through the courtesy of the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ whose Country Manager in Pakistan, Kazuhiro Abe, is on the current Board of Directors of PJBF. The visit also provided an occasion to Sohail P. Ahmed to meet Go Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer and CEO for Asia and Oceania of the Bank in Japan.
Whilst still in Osaka, M. Naseer, the Consul General of Pakistan, arranged for additional business networking with relevant companies for interacting with the visiting delegates. He was instrumental in generating interest of the Japanese companies to look at Pakistan as a potential destination for trade and investments with their counterparts as 33 known companies turned up for the event.
Following a three-day stay in Osaka, the delegation was taken by Sohail P. Ahmed to Tokyo where they were received by Pakistan's Ambassador, Farukh Amil. Prior arrangements between Pakistan's Embassy and PJBF enabled 130 representatives of the Japanese companies to assemble at the Embassy hall to meet the delegation. Speaking at the occasion, both the Chairman of PJBF and the Pakistan Ambassador stressed upon the need for greater interaction between the business community of Pakistan and Japan. To a number of Japanese entrepreneurs, it was an eye opener when they were informed of the available resources in Pakistan, both human and natural.
The Ambassador, while appreciating the visit of the delegates and the efforts made by PJBF in bringing them along, was confident that such initiatives will go a long way in creating awareness amongst the Japanese business community. At the same time, he said, that Pakistan business community would understand the requirements and the ethics followed by the Japanese in matters of business. He offered himself and the embassy staff for all out support to PJBF in all such activities.
Sohail P. Ahmed in his vote of thanks appreciated the cooperation and understanding of the Embassy staff and particularly mentioned Shehzad Ahmed Khan, the Commercial Officer whose persistent efforts, perseverance and co-ordination with Shaheena Anjum, the Executive Officer of PJBF, was helpful in making the SME delegation visit a big success.-PR