ISLAMABAD: Japan and Pakistan have a huge potential to expand theirbilateral trade and economic ties, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan KuninoriMatsuda said on Monday.
Talking to APP, the envoy said that both sides have the potential to doubletheir bilateral trade volume given that the resources were properlyutilised.
He maintained that Japan and Pakistan have enjoyed historical, diplomaticand economic relations, adding that Japan has always supported Pakistan inall diplomatic spheres.
Replying to a question, the ambassador said Pakistan and Japan were lookingto increase bilateral cooperation in the agricultural-based industry, asJapan has already announced a grant aid to enhance Pakistan’s productivityin relevant agricultural fields.
“Recently, Japan announced a grand aid of $5.2 million to support agri-foodand agro-industry development in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa andBalochistan provinces,” he informed. “This amount will be utilised for theenhancement of productivity and capacities of relevant sectors in KP’scattle meat value chain.”
He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was alreadyworking on the potential agro-based regions of Hazara, Swat, Chitral andGilgit Baltistan to promote innovation and value addition culture in theseareas. “Through JICA, the Japanese government is also working on coldstorage for the preservation of apple, apricot and other perishable fruits.”
He said that Japan was also striving to strengthen its footprint inPakistan’s auto sector by enhancing the capacity of local labourers andproviding employment opportunities in the country.
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“Japanese companies are interested in the establishment of auto industrialunits in Pakistan so as to bring investments to the country and provideopportunities to the local people,” he stated.
The ambassador informed that Pakistan and Japan would sign a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) this month for the export of thousands of hi-techskilled labourers from Pakistan to Japan.
“Japan intends to attract around 350,000 blue-collar workers from 10different countries, including Pakistan, over the next five years. Thenumber will enhance be enhanced by 2030.”
Matsuda praised the Pakistani workers working in Japan, saying that theywere highly skilled and working with full commitment and honesty.
“Professional skills and proficiency in the Japanese language will be aprerequisite for workers who wish to work in Japan under the said MoU,” heconcluded.
