ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan regards Japan as a close friend and a reliable economic partner, and looks forward to a greater level of cooperation in areas of trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and capacity-building of the institutions.
Talking to the ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Japan Dr. Asad Majeed Khan at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Friday, the president emphasized that pro-active measures were needed to boost the existing level of bilateral trade between the two countries.
The president said that engaging Japan at every level and advocating Pakistan’s position on Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) should be one of Ambassador’s major tasks. He said that balance of trade was in favour of Japan and stressed the need to enhance Pakistan’s exports to Japan.
President Mamnoon also advised the ambassador-designate to encourage Japanese companies to invest in Pakistan to enhance the capacity of industrial sector to produce value-added goods. He expressed confidence that Ambassador-designate would undertake strong efforts to get 3-4 year exception for Pakistani textiles under Japan’s Temporary Tariff Measures (like EU GSP+ model) to bring Pakistan at par with our competitors who enjoy free access to Japanese market.
Mamnoon Hussain also directed the ambassador-designate to actively pursue employment opportunities for Pakistani labour in Japan, especially in context of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The president appreciated the increase in number of Pakistani students availing scholarships in various prestigious institutions of Japan and stated that the ambassador-designate may explore further opportunities of higher studies, research and scholarships for the country’s students.
