SME delegates leaving for Japan on 26th

TOKYO: A business mission comprising the representatives of various small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is leaving for a four-day visit to Japan from 26th January to explore trade opportunities, a statement said on Tuesday.
As many as 20 delegates representing textile, leather, pharmaceutical, alternate energy, engineering, shipping, logistic and education sectors will meet with their Japanese counterparts and pay visits to different clusters, such as Toyama – a pharmaceutical cluster between 26th and 30th January.
This will be the 3rd SME Pakistan-Japan Business Forum business mission.
Business experts said the visit will raise awareness about Pakistan’s vibrant private sector, pave the way for increasing Japanese investment and assist expansion of exports to Japan.
They hoped that the government would help in removing impediments faced by foreign investors and the private sector.
“Such exchanges will bring the two business communities much closer,” said an expert. “This will also set the pitch before Japanese businessmen for the upcoming Expo 2015 in Pakistan.”
Analysts said the exchanges under the framework of business missions, with the participation of leading private sector stakeholders from Pakistan and Japan, provide a vital input for the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries.
With around 1.26 million SME clusters, Japan is an ideal trading partner and a major source of foreign direct investment for Pakistan.
Trade experts hoped that the delegation members would take full advantage of the visit to explore areas of mutual interest in the field of energy and infrastructure.
The delegation would also support Pakistan in its drive to increase exports of value-added products to Japan with which the former has trade deficit.