Japanese firms keen to invest in infrastructure

KARACHI: Japanese companies are keen to invest in infrastructure development and energy and water treatment sectors in Pakistan, a foreign official said on Monday.

Kimihide Ando, vice chairman of Pakistan-Japan Business Forum, said the country’s investment climate is improving.

“Like other multinational companies, we are also interested to increase our investment in Karachi,” Ando said in a statement.

Ando was leading a delegation of Japanese

companies in a meeting with Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair.

Zubair commended the contribution of Japanese firms towards the country’s economy and in jobs creation.

“Demand of Japanese products is ramping up due to their quality and durability,” he said.

“Improvement in law and order situation made the country, especially Karachi, ideal for investment.”

Meanwhile, Zubair directed the officials to take measures to increase

Pakistan’s exports to Philippine in view of rise in rice to the south east Asian economy.

“The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Philippine is strengthening,” he said in a separate statement.

Pakistan’s total rice exports soared 17 percent to $457.66 million in the first four months of the current fiscal 2017/18.

In quantity terms, rice exports increased to 915,228 tons during the period.

Governor Sindh, speaking to a delegation of Pakistan-Philippine Business Forum, said the agreement on exports of rice from Pakistan came to fruition.

“Demand of Pakistan’s medicines is also increasing in Philippine,” he said.

He further urged the delegation to capitalise on investment opportunities in the country.

Philippine’s Ambassador Daniel Ramos, leading the 16-member delegation, acknowledged that Karachi has become an attractive place for investment. “The Forum is playing its role to improve bilateral ties,” Ramos added.