RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) jointly organised a seminar on “Access to Japanese Market” on Thursday.

FCCI President, Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid said that Japan and Pakistan are enjoying cordial diplomatic and economic relations since 1952.

He said that in 1960 Japan developed as a modern industrialised country and since then it has been Pakistan’s major source of economic assistance, a leading trading partner and vital source of foreign direct investment.

FCCI chief further said that both the countries have bilateral trade volume of US $2.12 billion in 2012-13. He said that Japan is the second largest consumer market having economy size of US $5.964 trillion with world import of approximately US $885.84 billion in 2012.

Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid also appreciated the TDAP to hold this seminar and hoped that exporters would avail from the prevailing opportunities to increase our exports to the Japan.

Director TDAP Faisalabad, Allah Dad Tarar said that JICA is making serious efforts to further strengthen our economic relations and in this connection numbers of projects are being launched.

He stressed the need to diversify our products and said that we should also concentrate on non traditional markets including Japan. He said that this seminar has arranged to provide proper information to the textile exporters to fully understand the problems and opportunities of the Japanese market.

Hideaki Shimizu, JICA member said that a study was conducted to explore opportunities for Pakistani textile products in Japan. In this connection 100 Pakistani companies are selected including nine from Faisalabad.

He said that Yoshiai Kamiyama, a senior consultant of Japan Textile Import Association has been invited to give a detailed presentation on this issue.

Vice Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, Adil Tahir also addressed the seminar and said that there is huge scope for textile export to Japan which remained untapped till now.

Yoshiai Kamiyama, a senior consultant of Japan Textile Import Association gave detailed presentation and said that Japan is importing textile product worth US $40 billion per annum but out of it Pakistan’s share is only 0.23 percent.

He said that Pakistan being a major cotton producing country should also exploit from this opportunity by further improving its production and quality.

Later, special shields were presented to Allah Dad Tarar and Japanese experts on behalf of FCCI. FCCI Vice President, Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar thanked the guests and participants for attending the seminar.