The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the recipients of Foreign Minister's Commendation of FY2018. Pakistan Japan Business Forum (PJBF) is among this year's foreign recipients. The Commendation Award ceremony was held by the Consul General of Japan in Karachi Toshikazu Isomura. PJBF received the Commendations in recognition of its significant contributions to the promotion of economic relations between Japan and Pakistan.
Every year, the Foreign Minister's Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.
The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients. Speaking on this occasion, Consul General of Japan in Karachi Toshikazu Isomura said Pakistan and Japan have long history of friendship.
"Last year we celebrated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries". "However, the potential of our relations is far from been utilized in full", he added. "We believe that we can and must do more in order to understand each other more and, further, work together for practical matters of mutual interest", he said. In April this year Japan-Pakistan High Level Economic Policy Dialogue was held at the level of Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.
"We had fruitful discussions on a variety of aspects of the bilateral economic relation", he said. "We are planning to have the next Government-Business Economic Dialogue by the end of this year, where we can talk more about what the impediments are and how we can overcome them and further enhance the economic relations for the benefit of both countries".
"On behalf of the Foreign Minister of Japan, I would like to praise PJBF which has benefitted Japan and Pakistan tremendously and have also deepening the friendship and partnership between both countries", he said adding "this commendation ceremony expressed the Government of Japan's appreciation to you all for your contribution in strengthening the ties between Japan and Pakistan".
He said business between Pakistan and Japan is expanding. Chairman PJBF Sohail P Ahmed also spoke on this occasion and also received the award.