ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Oe on Friday said Japan considers Pakistan as a major development partner and the two countries will continue to support each other as true friends.
Japan will continue to provide financial and technical assistance to Pakistan as we believe that this country has a great potential for the future. There are spectacular development and investment opportunities in various fields as few countries are gifted with such natural and human resources, the Ambassador said.
Ambassador Hiroshi Oe said this while talking to Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs Chairman Sheikh Humayun Sayeed who called on him, acoording to a Press statement.
Chairman Media FPCCI Malik Sohail, Chairman Coordination Atif Akram Sheikh and First Secretary Takashi Shimokyoda were also present on the occasion. “Pakistan is facing difficult challenges which will be over soon,” he said adding that he will continue to strive to deepen mutual understanding through economic, educational, cultural and political exchanges.
Hiroshi Oe said that increasing population and negative perception is a problem that should be tackled on urgent basis. Sixty Japanese companies are operating in Pakistan, 1400 in Thailand and around 400 in India, he added.
He informed Japan Government is hosting investment seminars for Pakistan by end August, in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
A delegation of Japanese Chamber of Commerce will start exploring opportunities in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad from 16th July. The delegation will also meet President Zardari besides meeting different senior officials in a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce, they envoy said.
In October, another trade mission is coming to Pakistan comprising representatives of main Japanese companies who will visit Karachi, Islamabad, Sialkot and Lahore.
At the occasion, Sheikh Humayun Sayeed said that Japan is an important friend whose role in development of different sectors is laudable.
Lauding the efforts of JICA he said Japan should transfer technology which will help us in becoming self-sufficient.
He sought Japanese help in resolving energy crisis which is leaving a negative impact on industries, trade and other sectors.
“Fast-changing global scenario warranted an enhanced economic activity, you should try to motivate more Japanese companies to invest in Pakistan,” Humayun Sayeed demanded.
Pakistan and Japan should enhance their cooperation in the fields of agriculture, alternative energy, information technology, dairy, fisheries, and service industry, the business leader said.
Our proven natural resources of 186 billion tonnes of coal and huge reserves of natural gas offer great opportunities to Japanese investors. He also demanded reactivation of Pak-Japan Business Council.
FPCCI delegation lauded the role of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in strengthening the relations between the two countries on sustainable basis.